KARACHI: Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah distributed 1,000 digital tablets under the province’s non-formal education initiatives at a ceremony held at the Karachi Scouts Auditorium.
The event was organized by the Directorate of Literacy and Non-Formal Education, School Education Department. JICA Pakistan Chief Adviser for its education and literacy project, Ms. Chieho Ohashi, also attended the ceremony.
According to the Sindh Education Minister, the non-formal education programme, launched in April 2025, has helped connect around 100,000 out-of-school children across six districts with educational opportunities.
The programme focuses on children who are unable to access conventional schools, with particular attention to girls and children from disadvantaged communities. The initiative aims to provide community-supported educational opportunities while aligning non-formal education with modern requirements.
Speaking at the ceremony, Syed Sardar Ali Shah said the distribution of 1,000 tablets was not only about providing digital devices but also about empowering 1,000 facilitators and strengthening 1,000 educational centres.
The digital tablets are expected to help facilitators with direct communication, student attendance monitoring, educational activities, data management and other administrative tasks. They will also support teaching and learning activities at non-formal education centres in remote areas.
The minister urged facilitators to use the tablets effectively to improve teaching, student engagement and educational outcomes. He said the issue of out-of-school children is not limited to Sindh but remains a challenge across Pakistan.
He added that the Sindh government is working with social organizations and community-based organizations to bring out-of-school children into the education system, while philanthropists and other partners can also contribute to the expansion of non-formal education.
Ms. Chieho Ohashi said the 1,000 tablets provided by JICA would support facilitators in teaching, learning, data management, communication and monitoring. The devices will also provide access to educational materials, online training and professional development opportunities.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Syed Sardar Ali Shah distributed the 1,000 digital tablets among representatives of social organizations and community-based organizations operating non-formal education centres.
