The state of education in general and education of the girl child in particular, has been dismal in the country. Despite efforts being made in both the public and the private sector, female literacy rates remain abysmally low. It was in response to this apathy for the state of girls’ education that the Fellowship Schools Program (FSP) was initiated in Sindh in 1997-98 by the Sindh Education Foundation with the support of the Department of Education and Literacy, Government of Sindh.

FSP is focused on creating ownership of girls’ education within local communities through their complete involvement in the establishment, operation and management of primary schools. For effective and sustainable participation, Parent Education Committees (PECs) have been formed in each Fellowship School.

SEF extends technical support through capacity building of teachers and PECs as well as financial support i.e. teachers’ salaries, infrastructural improvement, learning resources etc. to schools operating in five districts of Sindh. The support mechanism is based on initiating a gradual increase in parental and community participation and a gradual decrease in SEF’s involvement so that final ownership of the schools rests with the communities.

OBJECTIVES

Arousing community awareness regarding issues of health, education and indigenous practices within them for greater community awareness.

Introducing & reclaiming early learning practices.

Evolving a process for a contextualized curriculum