The Punjab Human Capital Investment Project (PHCIP) is a World Bank funded initiative by the Government of Punjab. Its aim is to invest in health, education, and social protection to enhance human capital in 11 districts of Southern Punjab. The project is implemented by three agencies: School Education Department (SED), Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department (P&SHD), and Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA).
PHCIP’s objective is to improve access to quality health and education services and promote economic and social inclusion for vulnerable households in selected districts of Punjab.
Under the Bunyad component of PHCIP, the School Education Department is refurbishing 3400 Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) classrooms in 11 target districts. The focus is on providing quality ECCE services to children aged 3 to 5 years, with special attention to vulnerable households. The project also includes sensitization on various aspects like child safeguarding, gender equity in education, and sanitation.
Milestones of Bunyad program:
- Refurbishment of 3400 ECCE classrooms through repairs and thematic wall paints.
- Provision of ECCE kits and age-appropriate furniture for 3400 schools.
- Training of 3400 Head Teachers, 13600 teachers, 3400 caregivers, and 3400 School Council members on ECCE pedagogy and management.
- Training of 1300 AEOs on ECCE leadership skills to enhance governance and service delivery.
- Creation of reading corners in grades 1, 2, and 3 to foster a love for reading and a smooth transition from ECCE to pre-primary.
- Establishment of a live student tracking system to evaluate students’ transition rate from pre-primary to primary grades.
- Training of in-service primary teachers to support children’s transition from ECCE to primary grades.
