The Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), with support from the Government of Canada’s GAC-funded F4HE project, has strengthened early childhood development (ECD) services in Baltistan by training 241 professionals from education and health sectors. The initiative aims to integrate health and education to better support young children’s development across the region.
The comprehensive training, delivered through the ECD Module-IV Cascading Session, involved 94 participants from the Government Education Department, 78 from the Government Health Department, and 69 ECD teachers from community schools. Training sessions were led by highly skilled ECD facilitators, who received technical backing from the Aga Khan University. A total of 18 lead facilitators, drawn from both government departments and local communities, delivered the training program across Baltistan’s four districts.
At a closing ceremony in Skardu, the Director of Education Baltistan Division, Abdul Wahab Meer, and President of the Private Education Network, Muhammad Meer, commended AKRSP’s efforts. Muhammad Meer highlighted the significance of incorporating health into the early education framework, while Abdul Wahab Meer described the program as a pioneering step for the region.
As part of the initiative, AKRSP has set up six ECD hubs throughout Baltistan. Each hub is connected to 15 spoke schools, selected in collaboration with the Government Education Department. Furthermore, 80 traditional classrooms in the spoke schools have been upgraded into modern ECD spaces, providing improved environments for young learners. Teachers and health workers at these schools have successfully completed training in all four ECD modules, marking a significant enhancement in the region’s capacity to deliver quality early childhood development services.
