PEPAS Literacy Boost & Numeracy Boost Baseline Report May 2014

Save the Children initiated its work in the Battagram District of Pakistan through a multisectorial recovery and development program, which focused on earthquake affected vulnerable families. One of the most significant strands of this initiative was “Partnership for the Recovery and Development of Allai” – a five year (2007-2011) program implemented by a consortium of international and local NGOs. The first Literacy Boost project was piloted in 10 PRDA schools in Allai.

Based on the success of PRDA, Save the Children designed an integrated district wide follow-up program named “Program for Establishing Partnership and Stability (PEPAS)” for the integrated development of Battagram District. Reaching out to 60 percent of the population of Battagram, PEPAS aims to not only ensure access to quality education for at least 32,000 students in schools and madarris, but also provide livelihood opportunities to 31,250 households through various interventions. There are 260 PEPAS project schools in total in Battagram District.

The endline results of the pilot Literacy Boost program in Allai demonstrated tremendous improvement in the literacy skills and behavior of children. Consequently, Save the Children expanded the scope of interventions in the PEPAS program.