September 18, 2024_ It has been launched the two-year project “Radio Education: Promoting Learning through Radio in Isolated Areas of Pakistan”, implemented by UNESCO Pakistan, with the purpose of facilitating access to education and to enhance learning opportunities in the remote areas of the country. With the use of Interactive Radio Instruction, the project aims to provide interactive and inclusive educational content focused on topics such as Education for Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Global Citizenship Education, Environmental awareness, and the conservation of Cultural Heritage. The project, with a budget of 1 million euros, is funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and intends to involve 30,000 children, 75,000 youth and adults, and 25,000 families across six districts in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Baluchistan.
The kick-off event was attended by distinguished guests, including Her Excellency Marilina Armellin, Ambassador of Italy to Pakistan, Francesco Zatta, Head of Office of AICS Islamabad, and Antony Kar Hung Tam, Officer-in-Charge UNESCO Pakistan, alongside representatives from federal ministries, provincial departments, and civil society organizations.
In her opening speech, Ambassador Marilina Armellin emphasized the urgent need to address illiteracy in the most isolated areas of Pakistan, highlighting the importance of the combined involvement of government, teachers, and parents. She concluded by saying: “through this project, we hope to empower children, youth, and adults by providing them with after-school education and raising awareness on sustainable development and climate change resilience.”
Antony Kar Hung Tam shared this vision, stating that the project offers an opportunity to bridge the literacy gap and promote sustainable development. He also added that “this collaboration between AICS and UNESCO shall unlock the potential of radio to ensure that every child, even in the most remote areas, has access to education.”
Hassan Saqlain, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education, praised the potential of the project to complement the government’s efforts in digital education, in line with the educational goals of the UN Agenda 2030.
The event concluded with remarks by Francesco Zatta, who emphasized the importance of integrating education and culture to foster sustainable development. He stated that “education is fundamental to promoting sustainable development processes through a holistic approach that also includes the out-of-school context. Education and culture are deeply linked, as they involve family, community, and the environment. With the Radio Education project, this approach will help support education and extracurricular learning through technology, promoting literacy and school attendance.”
