ISLAMABAD, Jun 09 (ABC): Islamabad’s ‘No Child Left Behind’ initiative has enrolled 2,328 out-of-school children since its launch in March 2026, according to official documents. The campaign is part of a broader effort to improve access to education in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) by identifying children who are not attending school and helping them enter formal or non-formal education programs.
The initiative is being led by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training and aims to ensure that children across the federal capital have access to learning opportunities.
What is the ‘No Child Left Behind’ initiative?
The programme is a government-led enrollment campaign designed to identify, enroll and retain children who are currently outside the education system.
Under the initiative, teams conduct household surveys to locate out-of-school children and connect them with suitable educational institutions. The campaign covers both formal schools and alternative education options, including non-formal education centres and community schools.
According to official data, a door-to-door survey has identified 22,057 out-of-school children across Islamabad. So far, 2,328 of these children have been enrolled, while efforts continue to reach the remaining identified children.
How is the campaign being implemented?
The initiative follows a union council-based approach that combines household surveys, community outreach and real-time monitoring.
Survey activities have been completed in 31 union councils, while work remains ongoing in five others. During the first phase, which runs from April to June 2026, authorities are targeting 36 rural union councils out of the ICT’s total 50 union councils.
Information collected during the campaign is being integrated into the Non-Formal Education Management Information System, an online platform used to track identified children and monitor enrollment progress.
Who is eligible for enrollment?
The primary target group includes children between the ages of five and 16 years.
Officials aim to enroll 25,000 out-of-school children during the first phase of the campaign. The programme focuses on bringing children into education and helping them remain enrolled over time.
What support is being provided to students?
To facilitate enrollment, authorities are prioritizing admissions in schools managed by the Federal Directorate of Education.
In areas where access to formal schools is limited, non-formal education centres and community schools are being used. Some children are also being referred to private schools through the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority.
Students entering the education system are being provided with school supplies, uniforms, teaching and learning materials, and other educational support resources.
How are teachers being involved?
More than 1,100 qualified individuals have been engaged as teachers under the initiative. These teachers have received training to support the delivery of educational services to newly enrolled students.
The recruitment and training process is intended to help schools and learning centres accommodate increased enrollment while maintaining educational standards.
Which organizations are participating?
The initiative involves coordination among several public and development-sector organizations.
Participating institutions include the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, the National Commission for Human Development, Basic Education Community Schools, the National Education Foundation, the Pakistan Institute of Education, non-governmental organizations, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
What happens next?
According to official documents, the next phase of the programme will focus on enrolling the remaining identified children, completing surveys in the outstanding union councils, and strengthening coordination among education providers.
Authorities also plan to develop retention mechanisms aimed at ensuring that children who enter the education system continue attending school and complete their education.
