Junior Jinnah Trust hosts “No Child Left Behind” ceremony in Islamabad

Islamabad
Junior Jinnah Trust organized a meaningful and well-attended ceremony titled “No Child Left Behind” in the federal capital, bringing together key stakeholders from the education sector.
The event was graced by Federal Minister for Education Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Secretary Ministry of Education Nadeem Mahmood, along with representatives from Pakistan Alliance for Inclusive Education (PAI), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), Basic Education for Awareness and Social Empowerment (BECS), 25 Foundation, Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), and NGO Awaaz.
The program was designed under a Union Council–wise carpet coverage strategy and a collaborative approach aimed at enrolling out-of-school children and ensuring that no child is deprived of their right to education.
Speaking on the occasion, Director of Junior Jinnah Trust, Muhammad Al-Khiyam, expressed his gratitude to the Federal Minister, the Secretary Education, and all stakeholders for their support.
He stated that a comprehensive survey is currently underway across every Union Council in Islamabad to identify out-of-school children and bring them into the education system. He further highlighted that Union Council 62 has already been declared a Zero Out-of-School UC, setting a model example for others to follow.
Addressing the ceremony, Federal Minister Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui remarked that the world is currently facing the challenge of an educational economy, and education remains the ultimate source of awareness and enlightenment.
He emphasized that ensuring basic education is not solely the responsibility of the government or a single institution, but a shared duty of every household and individual. He announced that the “No Child Left Behind” campaign will be expanded across Pakistan in the coming phase.
He further stated that nations progress only when they provide every child with purpose, direction, and dreams. Referring to global education statistics, he acknowledged that developing countries face significant challenges and stressed the need for collective efforts to transform the situation. He appreciated the efforts of Junior Jinnah Trust, particularly the Union Council–level survey initiative launched under the leadership of Muhammad Al-Khiyam.
Secretary Ministry of Education Nadeem Mahmood, in his remarks, urged all Union Council stakeholders to play an active role in the enrollment campaign. He called upon both public and private institutions to take practical steps to ensure children are admitted to schools.
The ceremony concluded with a renewed pledge by the Federal Minister and participants to work collectively toward spreading the light of education to every household and ensuring that truly, no child is left behind.