The Zero out of School Children (OOSC) project-ICT, initiated by the Ministry of FE& PT, executed by the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), and funded by Pakistan Human Development Fund (PHDF), NCHD and the M/o FE&PT. The project was designed with the primary goal of eliminating the problem of children not attending school in Islamabad, ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to quality education. The project was a comprehensive, multi-faceted initiative aiming to address both the supply and demand side of education — improving the availability of schools and incentivizing enrollment through community engagement and local support systems.
The key goals of the Zero OOSC Project were:
- Reducing the number of children who are out of school: This is the overarching goal of the project, working to identify and enroll children who are not attending school, particularly in rural and underserved areas in ICT.
- Increasing access to education: By addressing factors like distance, lack of resources, and gender disparities, the project aimed to bring education closer to marginalized communities in ICT.
- Enhancing community involvement: Building strong community ownership and involvement to ensure that children are not only enrolled but avail the facility of continued education.
The significance of the project lies in its potential to positively impact both individuals and the broader community. Educating children is critical for the social and economic development of any nation. By focusing on reducing OOSC in ICT, NCHD aimed to contribute to Pakistan’s national education targets, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education for all. Education is a powerful tool to break the cycle of poverty, promote gender equality, and empower marginalized communities.