Free lunch: Govt to initiate school feeding programme

Aims to construct 150 primary schools, 500 IT labs in FY 2015-16

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government’s School Feeding Programme will begin in the upcoming fiscal year, 2015-16. Schoolchildren across the province will be provided with free nutritious meals.

According to a senior elementary and secondary education (E&SE) department official, Rs100 million has been cast aside for the programme.

New schools, old repairs

Discussing various projects which are on the cards, the official said 150 new primary schools and 500 information technology laboratories at higher secondary and high schools would be constructed.



“Hundred secondary schools will also be established,” he said. The official said Rs1.5 billion has been allocated for the procurement of desks, tables and chairs.

He said a public-private partnership model for current government schools was also under consideration. “Five high schools in various districts will be run under the model on a test basis.”

Higher education

“Management science colleges for girls and boys will be constructed in Swabi and Upper Dir respectively,” he said. Similar institutions will also be set up in Charsadda and Buner. A University of Engineering and Technology campus will be opened in Upper Dir while a university for women was being planned for Mardan.

According to these plans, Hazara University, Havelian Campus would be granted the status of a full university and public libraries would  be constructed across the province at a cost of Rs80 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2015.