PESHAWAR
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Minister for Education, Faisal Khan Tarakai, has announced the launch of several multi-purpose public welfare projects in the education sector for the upcoming year.
Addressing an Annual Development Programme (ADP) review meeting on Monday here, he stated that the education budget will be significantly increased and long-term planning has been put in place to benefit all students across the province.
Minister Tarakai emphasized that 70% of the newly established schools will be reserved for female students, and 30% for male students, under a new education plan. Efforts will also be made to reduce the number of out-of-school children while ensuring quality education for those already enrolled.
He shared that Rs. 326 billion had been allocated to the education department this year, with spending described as highly satisfactory. Of the 99 projects in progress, 96 were locally funded. He instructed officials to prioritize funding for projects nearing completion and to finalize their PC-1 for the initiation of new plans.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Education Masood Ahmed, Special Secretary Qaiser Alam, Education Advisor Mian Saaduddin, Director Education Naheed Anjum, and other senior planning officials.
The Education Minister directed the Human Capital Investment Project (HCIP) team to ensure that the benefits of the scheme are immediately delivered to the public. He emphasized the use of high-quality construction materials and asked for a comprehensive plan to be presented promptly.
Highlighting 17 new initiatives for this year, he mentioned the provision of free textbooks and school bags, the establishment of a Girls Cadet College in D.I. Khan, solarization of schools, development of model schools, and the Rented Building Schools Programme for primary, middle, and high levels. He further instructed that the construction work at Girls Cadet College Mardan should be completed before the start of the new academic session in September and the college should shift to its newly constructed building.
The Minister also called for the swift completion and activation of ERRA schools and directed that each school be visited by the M&E section to prepare detailed reports, including a comprehensive strategy for their completion.
Focusing on education in the merged districts, he directed profiling of all schools in these areas, assessing how many were affected by terrorism, and identifying those without proper buildings. A detailed report with proposals must be submitted, he said.
Minister Tarakai reiterated that education is a top priority for the government. The recruitment and training of teachers and provision of high-quality free education facilities to students remain key objectives.
During the briefing, officials shared the roadmap for improving quality and governance in education. Planned initiatives for the new year included establishment of 50 girls’ schools, creation of 100 new primary schools, upgradation of 150 schools to the next level,
construction of 80 primary schools in merged districts, rehabilitation of 200 schools, construction of 500 additional classrooms, renovation of 300 schools.
Besides, provision of science equipment to 300 schools, construction of 1000 Early Childhood Education rooms, construction of 50 examination halls in high and higher secondary schools and provision of various facilities in 200 girls’ schools.
In addition, the governance component will include the establishment of offices for District Education and Education Monitoring Authorities in both settled and merged districts, as well as a comprehensive survey of out-of-school children.
