The framework for Action (FFA) Education 2030 adopted in November 2015 by the UNESCO member states aims at supporting all countries to realize their own vision and ambitions for education within the framework of the global SDG-4 and its targets, and proposes ways of implementing, coordinating, financing and monitoring Education 2030 to ensure equal education opportunities for all. The heart of Education 2030, lies at the national and regional levels. Country-led action is needed to drive change, supported by effective multi-stakeholder partnerships and financing. In this context, a key first step is the organization of national and regional meetings to prepare national strategies and roadmaps towards the implementation of the SDG-4/the Education 2030 Agenda.
In Pakistan, under the 18th amendment to the constitution, education is a purely provincial subject and provinces (Balochistan, |Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh) are solely empowered to legislate and administer education, health and other development affairs of their people. As such, engagement with the provincial government is of immense importance to operationalize the new development agenda in Pakistan. The other four geographical areas of Pakistan (Pakistan administered Kashmir (PAK), Federally Administer Tribal Areas (FATA) and Gilgit Baltistan) are also to be taken on board for consultations.
Objective: In view of the above, the first national consultation will be held in Pakistan on 15th December, 2015, followed by provincial/area level consultations early 2016 to initiate a discourse and build a common understanding of the new agenda, as well as provincial roadmaps for achieving the SDG-4/ the Education 2030 goals. The consultations will help in preparing a national roadmap to the ready for adoption by the Inter-provincial Education Ministers’ Conference (IPEMC) before mid-2016 to support the implementation of the new agenda at national and provincial/area level in collaboration with development partners. More precisely, the consultations will aim to achieve the following four elements:
Sensitization of provincial/area education officials on the SDG-4/ the Education 2030 and its corresponding targets and indicators, as well their translation into national and provincial context;
Identification of capacity development needs for a successful implementation of Education 2030, including for monitoring and reporting.
A national strategy/roadmap for achievement of SDG-4/ the Education 2030 targets with clear indications of amendments to the made in education policies and their implementation to be aligned with SDG-4/the Education 2030 Agenda.
Agree to a governance structure for SDG-4 based on an assessment of what has worked and what didn’t work during the 15 years of EFA, and taking in to consideration the national/provincial institutional framework for SDG-4/Education 2030 Agenda.
Timing: The consultations will begin from 15th December, 2015 with a national workshop at Islamabad with participation from provinces/areas (draft agenda at Annex-A) followed by provincial/area workshops, involving the other provinces/areas during the period from January to March, 2016.
Participants: In total, 135 participants will be invited for National Consultations in Islamabad. From provinces/area, members of provincial/area SDG-4 Committees, senior education department officers (at the level of additional secretary) will be invited.
Alignment of SDG-4 at the national and provincial/area level will need to be an inclusive process, with full transparency and accountability, engaging all the stakeholders highlighted in the FFA, and ensuring board ownership and common understanding. The consultations will be of a technical nature, requiring education sector policy makers, managers and experts. Representatives of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (MoFE&PT), provincial/area education departments, civil society organizations, academia, media, UN agencies and donor community will participate. Federal Minister of State for education and/or provincial education ministers will be invited to inaugurate the events.
Participation of the co-conveners of the WEF (UNESCO, UNICEF, World Bank, UNHCR, UNDP, UN Women, ILO and UNFPA) and other relevant stakeholders (WFP, development partner group, SCPs and academia) will be ensured for developing a consolidated implementation support in a long-term perspective.
Venue: The national workshop will be held in Margalla Hotel, Islamabad while similar venues will be reserved in provincial metropolis for provincial dialogues.
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