DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Private educational institutions across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have rejected the provincial government’s proposed policy to introduce board examinations for grades 5 and 8, calling it “impractical” and harmful to students’ academic future.
In a statement issued on Monday, Salim Khan, the provincial president of the Private Education Network (PEN), urged Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and the Chief Secretary to urgently review the decision.
“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is already facing a crisis in education, with over five million children out of school. In this scenario, enforcing board exams for grade 5 and 8 students, especially those who might relocate to other provinces, could result in the loss of an academic year,” Khan said.
He expressed concern over what he termed as the growing influence of the “commission mafia” in education, accusing policymakers of turning the sector into a testing ground at the expense of students’ futures.
Salim Khan emphasized that any changes to education policy must be made through inclusive and informed consultation, not based on experiments or personal interests.
“Unilateral decisions that ignore the policies of other provinces, particularly Punjab and the federal government, risk further damaging the quality of education,” he added.
He also criticized the provincial government for failing to allocate funds for the printing of textbooks, pointing out that both Punjab and federal authorities had already completed their publishing processes.
PEN has appealed to the provincial leadership to take private educational institutions into confidence and formulate a balanced policy that addresses ground realities and helps bridge the educational gap in KP.
