Pakistan Review News and Reviews

Prof. Anita Ghulam Ali
A Teacher and a Learner

One of the leading educationists of our country, Prof. Anita Ghulam Ali was born on 2nd Oct 1934 in Karachi. After receiving her MSc degree from Karachi University, she started her career as the Lecturer/Assistant Professor at Sindh Muslim Science College. She was the Provincial Minister education and now she is working as advisor to governor for education. She has been the Managing Director of Sindh Education Foundation since 1992 to date

Her endeavors towards safeguarding the rights of teachers of various colleges are commendable. She believes in being the voice of the voiceless and accomplishes this by writing regularly for the local newspapers. During the course of her career Ms. Ghulam Ali has won several awards and medals for the services she has rendered for this country.

At Sindh Educational Foundation she has been working at following projects.

1: Adopt a School Program:

The innovative idea of adopting a government school started a Situation Analysis of Basic Education in Sindh by Professor Anita Ghulam Ali in 1990 for UNICEF. This analysis revealed the poor performance and infrastructure of government schools in Sindh and then presented the concept of ‘adoption of government schools as a possible enterprise for school improvement.

In 1997, as the Managing Foundation, Professor Anita Ghulam Ali, presented the strategy of the Adopt-A-School Program to the then Minister for education. In the same year, Sindh Education Foundation was notified by the Department of Education to implement the Adopt-A-School Program in the province.

The strategy suggested the formation of a group comprising of the Department of Education, Sindh Education Foundation and the Adopter to revitalize the schools through a strong linkage and mobilization of the parents and community.

2-Child Labor Education Program

In August 1999, SEF initiated a program for working children to help them access education relevant to their needs and personal and professional growth. The program encourages active participation by children, parents and community in the program, its components and activities. To attain this objectives, SEF has established the Child Development Center in Sher shah, as area where a large number of children in the 12 plus age group work in the formal sector industry especially textiles, garments, tanneries and cottage industries etc. The Child Development Center(CDC) aims to pptovide educational and recreational experiences to neglected and poverty-stricken children who otherwise may not get similar opportunities. The Center is managed by Social Organizers, who mobilize communities and parents and work closely with children to harness their learning efforts in the desired and need-based direction.

3-Fellowship Schools Program (FSS)

The Fellowship Program is an innovative scheme that encourages communities to establish and operate their own private community schools with 4-years subsidy provided by the SEF on a declining scale. The program strives towards maximum community participation in school establishment, operation and financial sustainability. The Fellowship Program aims to provide low-cost, high quality primary education to girls in the rural and semi-urban areas of Sindh.

4-Data Processing and Research Cell (DPRC)

The Data Processing and Research Cell (DPRC) has been established with in the Sindh Education Foundation to undertake research, publication and data processing activities in key areas of research, publications and data processing.

5-Community Supported Schools Program.(CSS)

The Community Supported Schools Program. (CSS) is one of the components of Sindh Primary Education Development Program (SSPEDP), 1989. In the light of SEF’s extensive experience in community mobilization for school establishment, a proposal was submitted to the Sindh Education Department (SED) for perusal. The proposal ensured that Community Supported Schools would be established through a genuine and extensive community based process with the assistance of local NGOs\CBOs. On 7^th September 1998, under an agreement, SEF signed a contract with SED and international development Agency (IDA) for the establishment of 100 Community Supported Schools in Sindh. SEF is playing the role of technical advisor to the SED as well as that of key implementer. The duration of the project is five years i.e. July 1998 to June 2003.

6: Home school program (HSP):

SEF aspires to promote quality education for the girl child in far flung areas of Sindh through its core program. Home school Project is one such initiative which provides primary education to girls in areas where even boys’ school do not exist.

7: Women literacy and empowerment program (WLEP)

women literacy and empowerment program is a unique project that works towards empowering women to act as equal partner in the educational and social set up.