The United Kingdom (UK) is set to invest £20 million in Pakistan’s education sector through the Girls and Out of School Children’s Action for Learning (GOAL) programme, named Khilo aur Barho.

The initiative, funded by the British High Commission in partnership with the British Council, aims to improve literacy, numeracy, and overall educational resilience for over 250,000 children over the next three years, focusing on South Punjab and merged districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).

The program takes a comprehensive approach to support children’s learning in Urdu, Maths, and English based on their proficiency rather than age, ensuring quicker progress.

Notably, at least 10 percent of the participants will be children with disabilities, and 20 percent will be from marginalized backgrounds, addressing Pakistan’s urgent education crisis.

Jane Marriott, the British High Commissioner said: “Pakistan is facing an education emergency, with 26.2 million children out of school. This targeted support will make sure some of the most vulnerable children in the country don’t fall behind. The UK is already a significant supporter of education in Pakistan, supporting over 4.5 million children across Pakistan to access a decent education over the past 10 years.”

James Hampson, British Council Country Director, highlighted that this investment would drive lasting educational reform, enhancing access and quality. Federal Education Secretary Mr. Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani added that Khilo aur Barho aligns with Pakistan’s goal to address learning poverty, particularly in 14 challenging districts, by offering both pre-enrolment support and continued learning assistance through teacher training and enriched classroom environments.

Mr Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, Federal Education Secretary said: “Ministry is focused on helping deliver PMs education emergency whereby we are facilitating each of the provinces to connect with international and local partners to fight learning poverty in every district with special focus on lagging districts. I am hoping that GOAL will show how you deliver that successfully in 14 most challenging districts. We will stand ready to help in everyway to make it a success.”

The Khilo aur Barho program will target out-of-school children and work to retain students by improving educational quality and accessibility, aiming to create a lasting impact on Pakistan’s educational landscape.