Caritas Karachi inaugurates five non-formal education centres
The church organisation set up such centres in St. Michael's Parish. An estimated 400 to 500 out-of-school students between the ages of 6 and 14 are not going to school in the area. Among the causes are poverty, child labour, and climate change. For Father Nobert Nazir, they are “a sign of hope. Education is not a privilege”.
Karachi (AsiaNews) – Caritas Karachi has established five non-formal education (NFE) centres in St. Michael's Parish, with the aim of bringing hundreds of out-of-school children to school, especially in vulnerable communities.
The initiative is part of Caritas' project to promote the education of children who dropped out of school, implemented with the support of Hankki Baekwon Nanum Undong, a South Korean NGO.
Each centre is set up within the parish complex, providing a safe and accessible learning environment.
According to Karachi parish data, 400 to 500 students between the ages of 6 and 14 are currently out of school in the area, mainly because of poverty, child labour, displacement, and the increasing impact of recurring heat waves.
Many of the children come from families of day labourers who struggle to afford school expenses such as fees, uniforms, and transportation. As a result, education often becomes a secondary priority, forcing children to work or take on household responsibilities at an early age.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Father Nobert Nazir, parochial vicar of St. Michael's Parish and guest of honour, emphasised the transformative potential of the initiative.
“These centres are a sign of hope. Education is not a privilege – it is a fundamental right and the first step towards breaking the cycle of poverty,” he said.
The centres will be run by specially trained teachers from the community, including many young women from the parish. Their involvement not only creates local employment opportunities but also strengthens community engagement in the programme.
The curriculum is designed as a bridging model, aimed at integrating students into formal schools after 12 to 24 months of accelerated learning.
Mansha Noor, executive secretary of Caritas Karachi, stressed the broader vision behind the project. “When a child drops out, it is not just a number – it represents a lost dream,” he explained. “Through these centres, we aim to restore hope and provide every child with a second chance at education.”
The initiative, he added, is inspired by the principles of Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si', promoting care for both people and the environment. In its initial phase, the project aims to involve at least 150 boys and girls in the five centres.
In addition to classroom learning, the centres will also serve as community hubs, offering awareness sessions for parents on the importance of education, child labour laws, and measures to protect children in extreme weather conditions, particularly heat waves.
For many children, the initiative represents a new opportunity. Nasreen, who had to leave school in second grade to care for her younger siblings, is among the first to enrol. "I want to be a teacher," the 11-year-old said. "I thought my chance to study was over, but now I feel like I can start again."
The inauguration ceremony ended with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Fathers Nobert Nazir, Mansha Noor, and Amir Robin, along with teachers, members of the community management team, and Caritas staff.
This initiative reflects Caritas Karachi's ongoing commitment to inclusive and equitable education. It also integrates the organisation's ongoing efforts into school-based disaster risk reduction programmes, further strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities.
.png)
15/05/2024 14:31
