2 weeks Ago By Our Staff Reporter
Peshawar - In a major push to ensure access to quality education for every child in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shahab Ali Shah, chaired a high-level review meeting on Monday to assess the progress of the ongoing School Enrollment Campaign 2025. A detailed presentation was delivered on the issue of out-of-school children and the strategies being implemented to integrate them into the education system. The meeting was informed that approximately 4.
9 million children remain out of school across the province, while 9 million are currently enrolled in educational institutions. The Special Secretary for Education briefed the participants that District Education Officers (DEOs) are specifically targeting areas with high concentrations of unenroled children. Emphasizing the importance of community participation, the forum was apprised that a comprehensive door-to-door enrolment drive is underway, involving schoolteachers and local influencers.
Additionally, elected representatives of local bodies, youth volunteers, community elders, and religious leaders are being mobilized to support the campaign at the grassroots level. The Chief Secretary underscored that robust community engagement and sustained advocacy are pivotal to the success of the enrolment initiative. He further directed DEOs and district administrations to ensure the timely updating and submission of accurate enrolment data to facilitate evidence-based planning and decision-making.
Tax incentives for Gwadar Port not possible, Senate body told To incentivize enrolment and ease the burden on families, school bags and stationery items are being distributed free of cost to newly enrolled students. Moreover, the government is set to launch the “Taleem Card” initiative in the near future, aimed at further supporting students and families in their pursuit of education. The meeting also reviewed plans for the establishment of community schools for girls, the creation of Early Childhood Education (ECE) corners, and the training of teachers in ECE methodologies.
It was emphasized that efforts to reduce early dropouts will be strengthened through the effective utilization of Parent-Teacher Councils (PTCs). The Chief Secretary highlighted that the provision of quality primary education remains a top priority and reiterated the importance of adequate teaching staff and classroom infrastructure to meet demand. He also announced that enrollment figures would henceforth be linked to the performance evaluations of DEOs and head teachers to ensure accountability and results.
OIC stands firm behind Kashmiris: Special Envoy The forum was informed that the Elementary and Secondary Education Department is formulating a comprehensive sectoral reform strategy in line with the directives of the Secretaries Committee. In this regard, Deputy Commissioners have been tasked with regularly reviewing district-level progress against predefined benchmarks. The Chief Secretary further instructed relevant departments to explore innovative and cost-effective solutions for school infrastructure development in underserved areas.
An action plan is also being finalized to address the multifaceted challenges associated with out-of-school children. He concluded by emphasizing that the School Enrollment Campaign 2025 and the restructuring of the examination system are key pillars of the government’s education sector reforms. With a target of enrolling 1 million out-of-school children this year, the provincial government remains committed to transforming the education landscape and ensuring inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all.
FC free eye camp ends in Landi Kotal Later the same day, another high-level meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah to review the progress of ongoing development initiatives, infrastructure projects, and governance reforms across the province. During the meeting, the Chief Secretary was apprised of the status of reform strategies and governance roadmaps, which are being developed in accordance with directives from a previous Secretaries Committee meeting. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), comprehensive action plans, and long-term strategies for the next three years are currently being formulated to enhance institutional performance and service delivery.
The forum was informed that significant progress has been made in urban planning, with 16 master plans for various cities finalized, and four more in the final stages of completion. In addition, land use plans have been prepared for six key districts—Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Abbottabad, and Charsadda. Master plans for major tourist destinations are also in the pipeline to harness the province’s tourism potential.
CM Maryam reviews PERA launch plan across Punjab The Chief Secretary emphasized the critical need to align the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and strategic development planning with city master plans, ensuring a cohesive and targeted approach to infrastructure development and resource utilization. Regarding infrastructure development, he was briefed on the accelerated progress of the Peshawar bus terminal, expected to be completed by June this year. Updates were also shared on efforts to resolve bottlenecks at various Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations in Peshawar to ensure smooth traffic flow.
To enhance transparency and efficiency in procurement processes, it was noted that eight departments have adopted the Electronic Procurement and Disposal System (EPADS), with 42 tenders uploaded on the portal to date. The Chief Secretary directed the Communication and Works (C&W) Department to explore modern, innovative construction techniques for faster and more cost-effective project completion—particularly in the construction of schools and hospitals to meet growing public demand. Event held at KMU to mark World TB Day The meeting also reviewed progress on the Taleem Card initiative—a flagship programme of the Elementary and Secondary Education Department aimed at providing targeted educational support and promoting access to quality education across the province.
The Chief Secretary reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to accelerating development, promoting transparency, and ensuring the timely execution of public service delivery initiatives. Tags: chairs meeting review ongoing.
