Sindh hands out 1,000 tablets to centres teaching out-of-school children
Sindh hands out 1,000 tablets to centres teaching out-of-school children
The Sindh government has distributed 1,000 digital tablets to non-formal education centres working to bring out-of-school children into the education system.
The Directorate of Literacy and Non-Formal Education, working under the School Education Department, organised the distribution ceremony at the Scouts Auditorium in Karachi. Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah handed the devices to representatives of social and community-based organisations that run the centres. Chiho Ohashi, the JICA Pakistan chief adviser for education and literacy, also attended.
What the tablets will be used for
The tablets are meant for the facilitators who run the non-formal education centres, not for the children directly. According to the education minister, they will help facilitators communicate with teachers, record student attendance, manage data and monitor educational activities.
Ohashi said the devices would support teaching, learning and monitoring, while giving facilitators access to teaching materials, online training and professional development opportunities.
Reaching children outside conventional schools
Shah said the non-formal education programme, launched in April 2025, had connected around 100,000 out-of-school children with educational opportunities across six districts. He said the programme relied on local communities to reach children unable to attend conventional schools, with particular attention to girls and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
He said the initiative went beyond providing equipment, supporting 1,000 facilitators and strengthening 1,000 education centres.
The minister said out-of-school children were a nationwide challenge that required cooperation between governments, social organisations and local communities.
Frequently asked questions
Who received the tablets in Sindh?
Representatives of social and community-based organisations running non-formal education centres received the tablets at a ceremony at Karachi’s Scouts Auditorium.
How many children has the non-formal education programme reached?
Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah said the programme, launched in April 2025, had connected around 100,000 out-of-school children with educational opportunities across six districts.
What is JICA’s role in the initiative?
JICA Pakistan is backing the programme. Its chief adviser for education and literacy, Chiho Ohashi, attended the distribution ceremony and said the devices would support teaching, learning, monitoring and facilitator training.
