On Wednesday, the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) signed an agreement that is to strengthen the informal education system in the country. The agreement is part of the Advancing Quality Alternative Learning (AQAL) project that is being implemented by JICA in Balochistan, Sindh and federally administered areas.
The AQAL project started in October 2015, with duration of 50 months is to be completed in November 2019. The aim of the project is to upgrade the non-formal and adult literacy education system (from primary non formal education to middle level vocational education) in Punjab and the primary level non formal education system will be utilized for assisting Federal, Sindh, and Balochistan governments in developing their own non formal and adult literacy systems.
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In a statement by the varsity according to the local news, the agreement was signed by JICA-AQAL Chief Adviser Chiho Ohashi and AIOU’s Additional Registrar Dr Muhammad Zaigham Qadeer. Dean Education Dr Nasir Mahmood was also present on the occasion. The agreement is to serve as a joint venture in the field of informal education.
As part of the agreement, JICA is to give technical support to AIOU apart from exchanging expertise and developing textbooks apart from helping AIOU set up a primary and middle-level accelerated program in various parts of the country.
