QUETTA: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Balochistan government’s secondary education department and Aahung, a Karachi-based non-governmental organisation, for introducing the life skills-based education (LSBE) in the province.

Under the MoU, students from class six to nine would be taught LSBE prepared by Aahung to create awareness among children about physical and sexual abuses, nutrition needs, diseases and protection of their rights.

In the first phase, 10 schools in Balochistan would be selected for the LSBE programme.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and renowned singer and head of Zindagi Trust Shehzad Roy formally announced the introduction of the LSBE programme in Balochistan in a joint press conferment on Saturday.

The CM said on the occasion that his government was striving hard to bring improvement in education and health sectors in the province which, according to him, were badly neglected by previous governments.

Secondary education department and Aahung sign MoU

He said the education sector had been given due importance in the next budget of the province, adding that the government was introducing a number of programmes that would help ensure provision of quality education to children.

He said the government was also introducing a programme in the heath sector in the budget under which poor patients of cancer, hepatitis and kidney diseases could receive treatment in any good hospital in the country and the expenses would be borne by the provincial government.

Mr Roy said the LSBE programme was being introduced in Balochistan to create awareness among children about their rights and sensitise them about sexual and physical abuses and their nutrition needs. He expressed the hope that the programme would improve children’s confidence.

According to him, Balochistan and Sindh are facing some similar issues in their education sectors. The LSBE programme was appreciated in Sindh, he added.

“Balochistan is very close to my heart and I want children in this province could be able to protect themselves from all kinds of abuses,” he said, expressing the hope that the LSBE programme in Balochistan would yield healthy results.

Answering a question, he said hurdles were always created when reforms were introduced for brining improvement in the education sector.

He said the LSBE programme for Balochistan had been designed according to local customs and traditions.

Mr Roy said after the LSBE programme’s success in Balochistan efforts would be made to introduce it in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Provincial Education Minister Tahir Mehmood Khan, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information Bilal Kakar and Education Secretary Noorul Haq Baloch were on the occasion.

Welcoming the LSBE programme in Balochistan, the education secretary said the government would extend all out cooperation for the success of the programme.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2018