School on Wheels” - An Effective Mechanism for Provision of Early Childhood Education in Slums and Rural Areas of ICT
The Secretary Education, Mr. Nadeem Mahbub visited and checked one of the “School on Wheels” vehicles. He was briefed that this initiative, which is an outreach program bringing quality education directly to children in underserved communities, started in early 2023 under a PM's directive. For over two years now, this initiative has been extending educational opportunities to children at doorstep who otherwise face barriers to schooling. While interacting with the assigned teachers onboard the mobile classroom, he expressed deep appreciation for the creativity, commitment, and inclusivity demonstrated through the program. The “School on Wheels” serves as a model of how education outreach can be expanded. The Secretary was informed that at present, only two buses are in the field in ICT. Recognizing the success and positive response from the community, the Secretary Education directed to add two new units of “School on Wheels” dedicated to Early Childhood Education (ECE) in slum and rural areas and special funds will be provided for the purpose. These new air-conditioned mobile schools will have the latest learning material and also interactive boards with internet connection. This will ensure that young learners effectively receive foundational learning experiences essential for their cognitive and social development, especially in rural areas of Islamabad.