Govt to extend stipends to ex-FATA students

Programme aimed at reducing dropout rates of children in these areas

PESHAWAR: The provincial government on Wednesday said that they intend to extend a stipend programme in order to convince children to stay in school.

This was disclosed by Adviser to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister on Education Ziaullah Bangash on Wednesday while chairing a meeting of senior officials from the education department including those from the newly-merged districts.

During the meeting, he detailed that the provincial government intends to spend around Rs36 billion for improving the standard of education in the newly-merged tribal areas. Of this, Rs22 billion will be spent on new development projects in the erstwhile federally administered tribal areas (Fata) and a further Rs14 billion will be utilised for non-development projects.

89% of children enrolled in schools: report

He added that over the next decade, they will focus on bringing the quality of education in the tribal districts on a par with the settled areas of the province.

Furthermore, he said that the provincial government will address the issue of high dropout rates at schools in the newly-merged districts. In this regard, Bangash said that the government will offer a reward of Rs1,000 to each of the 35,000 male and female students at the secondary level. At the primary level, he said that they will provide Rs500 to the 700,000 students at primary level in these areas.

The provincial government, the education adviser said, will also set aside money for the construction of extra rooms, toilets, drinking water facilities, boundary walls, and renovation of already built classrooms in the ex-Fata areas.

Furthermore, new schools will be constructed in the most backward areas of the newly-merged districts, he said.

The adviser directed officers of the education department in the merged districts to expedite appointments on posts which have already been advertised.

“Vacant positions can be filled during the days the schools are closed,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2019.