ISLAMABAD, November 4, 2026: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has inaugurated a tent school in Ali Pur Farash, Islamabad, as part of a collaborative initiative to provide educational opportunities to out-of-school children and bring them into the formal education system.
The school was inaugurated by AIOU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood in collaboration with the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), Basic Education Community Schools (BECS) and National Education Foundation (NEF).
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Dr. Nasir Mahmood said ensuring access to education for children who are currently outside the school system remained a central priority for the university.
He emphasised that education was a fundamental right of every child and that institutional cooperation was essential to reaching children deprived of learning opportunities.
“Bringing out-of-school children into the educational mainstream is our mission,” he said.
The vice chancellor described the tent school as an important step towards extending educational facilities to underserved communities, particularly children unable to attend regular schools because of social or economic circumstances.
He expressed confidence that similar initiatives could help disadvantaged children gain access to education and improve their future prospects.
NCHD Director General Ali Asghar said educating out-of-school children required coordinated efforts by government departments, educational institutions and development partners.
He stressed that expanding access to schooling was a national responsibility and would contribute to both individual development and wider social progress.
JICA representative Muhammad Bilal Aziz reaffirmed the organisation’s support for initiatives aimed at improving educational access and ensuring equal learning opportunities for children.
He said continued collaboration among partner institutions could help extend educational facilities to more children currently excluded from the education system.
Books and school bags were distributed among children during the inauguration ceremony.
Representatives of the participating organisations, including officials from the federal education ministry and AIOU’s registrar, attended the event.