26,000 Children Out of School in Islamabad, NA Panel Told

ISLAMABAD: The National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) has launched a door-to-door campaign across 36 union councils in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) to identify out-of-school children and help enrol them in non-formal education centres, a parliamentary committee was informed on Monday.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training was informed that around 26,000 out-of-school children had been identified in Islamabad, with nearly 18,000 already enrolled in non-formal education programmes.

The committee, chaired by Acting Chairperson Mahtab Akbar Rashdi, was briefed on the government’s efforts to bring out-of-school children into the education system.

Three tent schools have also been established in Jogia, near Faizabad, to provide educational facilities to children living in the settlement. Officials said children completing the non-formal education programme and obtaining the required certification could subsequently enrol in formal schools.

While appreciating the initiative, the committee raised concerns over the lack of a clear mechanism for transitioning children from non-formal to mainstream education. It called for stronger monitoring and follow-up systems to track their progress and ensure they remain in formal schools.

The committee also expressed serious concern over the growing use of narcotics in educational institutions and stressed that creating a safe, drug-free environment required coordinated efforts by educational institutions, law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies.