Syed Sardar Ali Shah, the Provincial Minister for Education in Sindh, Pakistan, has stressed the vital importance of consolidating data from all Islamic countries to effectively tackle country-specific educational challenges. Minister Shah emphasized that without comprehensive data, efforts to enhance education systems would fall short of achieving their full potential.
These remarks were delivered during the High-level Ministerial Dialogue hosted by the Islamic Countries Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in London, following the Education World Forum. The dialogue served as a precursor to the upcoming ‘Transforming Education: Pathways to ICESCO Education Minister Conference’ scheduled for October in Muscat. Minister Shah shed light on the pressing educational challenges confronting Pakistan, particularly in Sindh, where 4.1 million children are out of school. He underscored the educational emergency in Pakistan, aggravated by devastating floods that have impacted 19,000 schools, severely disrupting student enrollment and retention rates.
Expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people, Minister Shah lamented the ongoing atrocities against them, reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support. Furthermore, Minister Shah advocated for the establishment of educational exchange programs among ICESCO member countries to promote collaborative learning and partnership. The dialogue witnessed the participation of 120 ministers representing 114 nations, convened to deliberate and devise strategies for enhancing global education systems. Centered around the theme “Encouraging AI understanding, building human relationships and resilience, and accelerating climate action,” the Education World Forum 2024 provided a platform for policymakers to prioritize policy and implementation for a stronger, bolder, and better education system.
