Notice of Retraction: Nonformal basic education community schools: Practices and possibilities in Pakistan

Abstract

Basic education is a fundamental human right, provides foundation for further education. Nonformal lifelong education is the one of the important alternatives to cover the gaps in the promotion of basic education in developing countries like Pakistan, confronting a great challenge of lifelong basic education. The present study is descriptive in nature with objectives: a) To identify the gaps in establishing the nonformal basic education(NFBE) community schools, b) To find out the problems of NFBE teachers, and c) To analyze the status of the enrollment in these schools. The population of the study consisted of all NFBE teachers in Punjab and Islamabad. The questionnaire was used as tool. Percentages and frequencies were considered appropriate for data analysis. The main findings of the study were that: i) Most of the localities where NFBE community schools are established also have other type of schools while majority of localities have more than one nonformal school. Some localities have Islami Madris, ii) Most of the teachers reported that they are facing the problem of late delivery of text books and short duration of teaching span and iii) Class- wise strength of students of NFBE Community Schools reveals that majority of the students are in class one and nursery. Therefore, the researchers recommended that the NFBE community schools which are situated in localities where there is duplication of NFBE community schools may be shifted to feasible localities while teachers may be provided to Islamic Madaris so that students in those may also be able to acquire basic education coupled with modern education. A linkage between formal schools, nonformal schools and communities may be created to improve the implementation of NFBE Community School Programme for the quality basic education for all. On the basis of the findings some further suggestions are made to improve the NFBE in Pakistan.