PESHAWAR: The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has declared an education emergency in the province, introducing the Education Card initiative to support students in nine districts, including Kohistan, Kolai Palas, Torghar, Chitral, Tank, and South Waziristan.
This program aims to benefit around 40,000 children, providing students enrolling in government schools with a monthly stipend of Rs.1000. To encourage female education, girls will receive an additional Rs.500 monthly scholarship.
The Education Card initiative is part of a broader effort to improve access to education in the province’s underdeveloped and remote areas, addressing long-standing challenges in the region.
Over 550,000 students will benefit from the monthly educational stipends, and 506 talented students will receive scholarships through the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA).
This move demonstrates the government’s commitment to education, building on previous reforms and achievements in the sector. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has increased its education budget significantly, allocating Rs. 136.194 billion in 2017-2018.
Other initiatives include the provision of free textbooks to over 4.3 million students annually, recruitment of new teachers, and teacher induction programs to improve student learning outcomes.
