Education drive: 0.8million children to be enrolled in govt-run schools

District education officers asked to keep track of out-of-school youth.

PESHAWAR: An education campaign starting April 8 will enrol 0.8 million children in government-runs schools across the province.

The plans and targets for the enrolment drive were discussed at a high-level meeting chaired by Elementary and Secondary Education Additional Secretary Qaiser Alam Khan on Sunday.

Khan shared the campaign will be launched across the province and a ceremony to celebrate the initiative will be held at Government Shaheed Hasnan Higher Secondary School No1 in Peshawar, also on April 8. The campaign targets include getting around 0.8 million children enrolled with the support of UNICEF, Save the Children and Alif Ailaan – partner organisations. District administrations have been requested to ensure security during the campaign.

Participants said awareness messages about the enrolment drive will be on local radio stations as well as on mediums implemented by the information department. Partner organisations will distribute relevant literature.

Education funding

At the meeting, Elementary and Secondary Education Director Rafiq Khattak shared that Rs4 billion has been allocated for Parents Teachers Council (PTC) funds across K-P. He said a memorandum of understanding has been signed between the education department and Sarhad Rural Support Programme.

At least Rs385,000 will be given for the construction of boundary walls in each school across the province, added Khattak. Those schools that are not surrounded by boundaries would use the amount to erect walls whereas other schools will increase the heights of their boundary walls to eight feet.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2015.