Pakistan Coalition for Education (PCE)

Established in 2005, Pakistan Coalition for Education (PCE) currently stands as the only coalition working on education advocacy in Pakistan for sixteen consecutive years. This network of civil society organizations currently is present in 65 districts across Pakistan in Punjab, Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The Coalition consists of members from local Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Education Reporters’ Associations (ERA) in the media, who aim to bring about change in the education system of the country through policy advocacy and civic engagement.

In recent years, PCE has grown immensely with regards to its thematic areas of education. While it started from Financing on Education, PCE is now taking on several issues including the implementation of Right to Education, Education Governance, Girls' Education, Public-Private Partnerships in education and the Sustainable Development Goals. Since last year, PCE has also conducted additional research on unregulated privatization of schools as a violation of human rights.

National Coordinator's Message

Pakistan, the world’s fifth most populous country, home to more than 60% population below the age of 30 shows that we have a young and energetic population that is brimming with potential to set the country on the course for success and prosperity.

Education plays a vital role in ensuring a peaceful and prosperous culture leading to an environment which enables active and productive citizenship and emancipated communities who can stand up for their rights. This cannot be achieved only by imparting learning through text books and assessment rather requires different tools and techniques leading to joyful learning and life skills through pedagogical methodology and child centred skills, values and attitudes. It is a need for the hour to equip our children in a way that they play a productive role in society and have skills to overcome the issues and challenges of present time ranging from clean water, climate change, food security, poverty, sexual harassment, child molestation, respect, patience that lead to sustainable and peaceful communities.

Education is the only tool which enables children to trust their own capabilities and conquer the world on their own. As the saying goes ‘with a little seed of imagination you can grow a field of hope’ we need to build imagination of our children for a prosperous and non-violent world. This transformation cannot be achieved without an active and important role of media, academia, teachers, peer groups, elders, parents and other stakeholders in creating a positive environment for our young population.

Alongside this, there is a need for an inclusive, transparent and open policy process which is vital to empower our youth in order to place them at the heart of decision making about their future. A future where youth especially girls, PWDS, transgenders and other marginalized groups have ample space to raise their voice against injustice, discrimination and lawlessness; where they have enough opportunities to nourish their brains and become critical thinkers with the competency to ask thought provoking questions, set targets, reflect, analyse and solve problems individually as well as collectively to create a better Pakistan.