By Bushra Kamal, Field Education Officer
Fozia, an 8-year-old student from Govt Girls Primary School (GGPS) Raman in Laspur Valley Chitral, is a shining example of how the AKRSP-School Improvement Programme (SIP) is changing the education landscape in remote valleys. At a parent-teacher meeting, Fozia’s mother shared with pride that her daughter had read three storybooks from the program’s library in just one month. What made this achievement even more remarkable was that Fozia’s mother, who had never been involved in her daughter’s learning before, became an active participant in the process. Inspired by the picture talk strategy introduced during the community awareness sessions, she began helping Fozia create her own stories through drawings, a practice that further sparked Fozia’s imagination and love for reading.
This story highlights the programme’s success in not only fostering a passion for reading among children but also in empowering parents to actively contribute to their children’s education. The community awareness sessions, where parents were introduced to strategies such as picture talks, pre-reading exercises, and listening activities, have had a profound impact. Many parents, who had never seen reading as a fun or accessible activity, now understand how these methods can help their children improve their literacy skills.
One mother, deeply moved by the experience, remarked, “If I had known that reading was this fun, I would never have sent my children to work as laborers.” Another parent, who had married off their daughter at an early age, shared, “If someone had told us these things earlier, we would not have married off our daughters. Instead, we would have educated them.” These reflections show how the SIP programme has helped shift the community’s perspective on the importance of reading and education, particularly for girls who had been excluded from formal learning opportunities in the past.
The impact of the programme is also evident in the increasing parental involvement in education. Teachers have reported a noticeable rise in student engagement and interest in reading, as children are now more eager to explore the books available in SIP libraries. Parents, once disconnected from their children’s learning, are now deeply involved in supporting their education at home. This growing engagement has helped create a positive cycle, where students, teachers, and parents work together to improve literacy and educational outcomes.
Through the SIP programme, the community in the remote Laspur Valley has witnessed a transformation. Education is no longer seen as a distant dream but as a powerful tool for unlocking opportunities. Children like Fozia are now able to embrace the joy of reading, with the support of their parents, and dream of brighter futures. This change in mindset, fostered by the SIP programme, is not only enhancing literacy but also reshaping the community’s outlook on the value of reading and overall education for all children, regardless of their background. The journey to a better future has begun, and for many in Laspur, reading is the key that will open the door.
