About LEAD Pakistan

Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) is a non-profit organisation, working to create and sustain a global network of leaders, who are committed to promote change towards patterns of economic development that are environmentally sustainable and socially equitable. LEAD Pakistan was established in 1995 and since then it has evolved into one of the most dynamic development sector organizations in Pakistan.

About Ilm Ideas

Ilm Ideas is a three-year programme to award grants nationwide for the purpose of increasing access to quality education for the children of Pakistan. Funded by the UKaid from the Department for International Development (DFID) and managed by Development Alternatives, Inc. Europe Ltd. (DAI Europe), Ilm Ideas seeks to support: 1 - Research studies to inform policy and strategic interventions; 2 - Activities to increase demand for greater transparency and accountability; and 3 - Creative solutions to the challenges faced by the education sector. Education is the top priority for the UK in Pakistan. By 2015, the UK will get more than four million children into school; recruit and train an additional 90,000 teachers; provide more than six million school textbook sets; and work with the Government and communities to build further commitment to improve the education system in Pakistan.

Strengthening Governance of Education Sector through Public Oversight by Communities in Sindh

LEAD House F-7 Markaz, Islamabad Pakistan 44000 LEAD Pakistan Inspiring leadership for sustainable world T: +92-51-2651511 F: +92-51-2651512 http:// www.lead.org.pk

P roject Objectives
This project will aim to achieve the following objectives: Increased availability of evidence-based knowledge on the state of, and community level involvement in education in the target areas of Sindh; Enhanced public knowledge of the state of education in Sindh; Increase in target communities' - district level and provincial level networking, and strengthening of community action for education sector in Sindh; Community engagement with district and provincial level policymakers to take policy action with regards to the education sector in Sindh.

P roject Brief
In 2008-09, there were 1,034 functional Primary Schools in District Sukkur, and 2,963 functional Primary Schools in District Khairpur, Sindh[1], for which SMCs (School Management Committees) were necessitated by law. The responsibilities of SMCs in the management of the schools are two-fold. Educationally, they are expected to monitor the teachers attendance, increase the enrolment of children and build awareness amongst parents on the importance of education for their children. Administratively, they are expected to participate in the organization of co-curricular activities, discourage corporeal punishment and monitor the provision of free text books and disbursement of stipends to girl children. The preparation of a school development plan and its subsequent monitoring and implementation also falls under their purview. Given the nature of the project which is based on a public policy engagement campaign supported by intensive research and coordinated community action, involvement of beneficiaries at each stage has been built into the project cycle. The project team will build relations with community members such as influentials, religious leaders etc., including SMC (where they exist) Head Teachers and district education administrators during the research phase which will involve perceptions surveys, focusing especially on the quantity and quality of the knowledge citizens have on the education sector in their respective areas.

Constitution of Pakistan. Article 25A. Right to education. The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in such manner as may be determined by law.

P roject Focus
The project targets various stakeholders like School Management Committees, where they exist and other community members such as elders, religious leaders, local journalists etc., district staff, provincial civil society organizations, provincial administrators and legislators and national civil society members, administrators and legislators

T arget Areas
The districts selected for this project are expected to give a good mix of urban-rural regions. For maximum impact in a short span of one year, LEAD Pakistan will undertake the project in the contiguous districts of Sukkur and Khairpur in the province of Sindh.