ISLAMABAD — Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Nasir Mahmood has inaugurated a tent school in Ali Pur Farash, reaffirming the university’s commitment to bringing out-of-school children into mainstream education.
The initiative has been launched through a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (MoFEPT), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), Basic Education Community Schools (BECS), and the National Education Foundation (NEF). Books and schoolbags were also distributed to children during the inauguration ceremony.
Addressing the event, Prof. Dr Nasir Mahmood stated that education is a fundamental right of every child and no child should be deprived of it. He emphasised that integrating out-of-school children into mainstream education is central to AIOU’s mission, adding that the university is making concerted efforts alongside its partner institutions to achieve this objective.
Expanding Access for Out-of-School Children
The Vice-Chancellor noted that establishing a tent school was a crucial step towards providing educational opportunities to children unable to attend traditional schools due to various hardships. He expressed confidence that such initiatives would help extend educational facilities to children in underserved and disadvantaged communities, enabling them to build a brighter future.
Director-General of the NCHD, Ali Asghar, stated that educating out-of-school children is a vital national responsibility requiring collective action from all relevant bodies. He stressed that coordinated initiatives are essential to ensure no child is left behind, adding that expanding educational access would not only improve children’s future prospects but also drive broader societal development.
JICA representative Muhammad Bilal Aziz highlighted that ensuring equal educational opportunities for children is essential for sustainable social development. He affirmed that JICA will continue supporting educational improvements and efforts to integrate out-of-school children into mainstream education in partnership with key institutions. He expressed hope that joint initiatives would enable educational access to reach a growing number of children.
Representatives from MoFEPT, JICA, NCHD, BECS, NEF, and Allama Iqbal Open University — including the university’s Registrar — attended the inauguration ceremony.
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