PESHAWAR: As the new academic year in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa approaches, the distribution of textbooks to government schools is expected to begin next month. However, with a limited number of books available, it remains unclear whether students will receive free textbooks again this year.
According to MashriqTv report, it has been learnt that some government schools in the province have already started collecting textbooks used by matriculation students; however, with these books having been used for two consecutive years, they are not in good condition and may not be useful for the upcoming academic year.
Last year, the provincial government had ordered an inquiry into the case of excessive printing of government textbooks and the disappearance of books from multiple places. The government had also announced the recovery of money from the respective teachers yet, no progress has been made since then.
The Education Department has kept mum on this controversial issue, leaving behind the process of book recovery to teachers. If the trend continues, the shortage of textbooks this year might adversely affect students’ learning.
KP govt launches drive to enrol out-of-school children
Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to launch a comprehensive campaign aimed at ensuring enrolment of out-of-school children across the province, as part of its good governance roadmap.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting held at the Chief Secretary’s Office, co-chaired by Provincial Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Arshad Ayub Khan and Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from education, health, social welfare, and local government departments, along with representatives of UNICEF.
Officials were briefed on a proposed province-wide survey system designed to collect accurate data on out-of-school children at the village council level.
The survey will identify children aged 5 to 16 who are not attending school, while also assessing the future educational needs of children under five.
It was decided that data on enrolled students will be collected from public and federal educational institutions, madrassas, non-formal education centres, and special education programmes to ensure comprehensive coverage.
According to the 2023 census, approximately 4.9 million children in the province are currently out of school. However, authorities expressed confidence that the new household and school-level survey will provide more reliable data, enabling better planning, budgeting, and resource allocation tailored to local needs.
The health and local government departments will play a key role in data collection through their grassroots networks, while the Social Welfare Department has been designated as a social partner to support underprivileged families and help remove financial barriers to education.
Education officials informed the meeting that the existing public school system has the capacity to immediately absorb an additional 25 per cent of out-of-school children. A 100-day action plan has also been prepared, targeting the enrolment of around 60 per cent of out-of-school children in the first phase.
The remaining 40 per cent will require expanded infrastructure, additional resources, and revised development planning.
Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah directed all relevant departments to expedite the signing of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to ensure effective coordination. He also instructed that the 100-day plan be presented before the provincial cabinet for approval.
