KP Govt Focusing on Alternative Learning Opportunities to Bring Back Out-of-School Children
PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Sep, 2026) The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Department is placing special emphasis on bringing out-of-school children back into the formal education system and, alongside expanding the capacity of existing schools, is focusing on creating alternative learning opportunities through distance learning and Non-Formal Education (NFE).
This was stated by Muhammad Ejaz Khalil, Procurement Specialist, Elementary and Secondary Education Department KP, while addressing a post-budget seminar on girls' education organized by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW) in collaboration with Blue Veins Organization here Thursday.
The seminar was attended by Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Syed Wiqar Shah, parliamentarians, representatives of the Education Department, civil society, and media.
Speaker's Insights
Speaking on the occasion, Ejaz Khalil said various schemes had been launched under the 2026 budget to increase student enrolment, with a special focus on girls' education. He informed that 73 new projects had been included in the Education sector for the fiscal year 2026-27 at a total cost of Rs125,142.348 million, with an allocation of Rs. 3,893.582 million for the first quarter.
He further stated that the government was working on:
- Construction of around 10,000 additional classrooms to enhance the accommodation capacity of existing educational institutions.
- Converting 50 mosques into government Primary schools, enabling children in the respective areas to access formal education through existing religious institutions.
- Establishing around 300 Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP) centres across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to provide educational opportunities to out-of-school and over-age children through the Elementary and Secondary Education Foundation (ESEF) and partner organizations.
Ejaz Khalil also mentioned that, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), a monthly stipend of Rs. 500 for each female student had been restored in the merged districts to encourage girls' enrolment and retention in schools. He added that the stipend was set to increase from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,000 per month, as per the directives of former Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
Earlier, in her welcome address, Chairperson KPCSW Dr. Sumera Shams said the seminar aimed to discuss budgetary allocations for fiscal year 2026-27, development schemes, and the implementation of initiatives related to girls' education. She noted that, following concerns raised by stakeholders and civil society organizations, the government had increased the Education budget by approximately 11 percent during the current fiscal year. However, she emphasized the responsibility to monitor the utilization of the allocated funds.