Tarakai chairs education sector review meeting
Peshawar
A Joint Education Sector Review Meeting was held today under the chairmanship of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Education, Faisal Khan Tarakai, in which ongoing education projects, future targets, and the government’s vision for strengthening the education sector were discussed in detail.
The Minister highlighted that the education budget for the current year has been increased by 11 percent compared to last year, reflecting the government’s commitment to improving quality education and providing modern facilities for students across the province.
He informed the participants that the Education Card Initiative has been launched, while 1,500 primary schools are being outsourced to make the system more efficient. To boost student enrollment, PKR 3 million has been allocated, and a new project has been initiated for schools operating in rented buildings so that immediate educational facilities can be ensured without waiting for permanent structures.
With the cooperation of UNICEF, 1,200 teachers will be recruited across 20 districts, while under the Rehmat-ul-Alameen Scholarships, 10,000 students are already benefiting. Furthermore, the semester system is being introduced from Grade 1 to Grade 8 to bring education in line with modern standards.
The Minister also stated that an MoU has been signed with Cambridge University for teacher training, alongside the launch of a licensing system and mandatory training program for teachers.
An e-transfer system has been introduced to ensure transparency in teacher postings, while funds have been allocated for the rehabilitation of flood-affected schools, which will be made functional soon. In addition, a Climate Awareness Program is being started for students to educate the new generation about environmental protection.
During the meeting, the Minister paid special tribute to a principal in District Buner, who through timely action saved the lives of 950 students, terming it an extraordinary example of commitment and responsibility. He further emphasized that this year’s target is to increase student enrollment by 50 percent, for which the admission campaign has been extended by two weeks.
Concluding the session, Minister Faisal Khan Tarakai reiterated that the vision of the provincial government is to provide every child with modern, high-quality education, and assured that cooperation with all stakeholders will be further strengthened to achieve this mission.
