PURPOSE:
Ipas Pakistan seeks to strengthen future midwives' pre-service education on postabortion care and family planning to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide comprehensive care to women and girls.

DISCUSSION:
Ipas’ assessment of midwifery schools across 7 districts in Pakistan conducted in 2024 revealed several critical gaps. They were not following the updated syllabus, resulting in a significant disconnect between policy and classroom instruction. PAC and FP receive limited instructional time, often overshadowed by broader maternal health content, leaving students inadequately prepared in critical area. Teaching approaches vary, with some relying heavily on outdated approaches and limited incorporation of competency-based methods. Skills labs were found lacking essential models and materials for practical demonstration of procedures. The analysis of the last five years’ examination papers showed no standardized structure for paper construction, leading to inconsistent assessment. Discussions with provincial examination boards confirmed no clear guidelines for constructing exams.

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
To address these challenges, Ipas intervened in 2024 – 2025 to conduct a training of trainers (n=17) at the national level followed by cascade trainings at the provincial and district levels (for 100 faculty from 35 districts across Punjab province). Ipas provided PAC and FP supplies t in the skill labs to address the teaching aid gaps. Ipas focused on enhancing technical knowledge and skills, enhanced interest and willingness to learn and transfer knowledge. The pre and post test assessment showed improvement in their knowledge (mean pretest:10 and mean posttest: 16) and the skills assessment reflected most trainees need support to reach optimal performance as per graded checklists on MVA and LARC skills.

KEY MESSAGE:
There is willingness among midwifery schools’ faculty and management to improve PAC and FP education and need for greater investment to enhance PAC and FP knowledge and skills, provide close supervision and support their professional development. Education - curriculum 2