PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved ‘Ilm Tolo Da Para’ (education for all), a literacy campaign jointly designed by the Pakistan Army and the provincial education department for the merged districts.

The campaign approved in a meeting of the provincial task force on merged districts with caretaker Chief Minister Justice retired Syed Arshad Hussain Shah in the chair on Friday, was aimed at increasing literacy rate in KP, particularly in the newly-merged districts, an official statement issued here said.

It said the plan also included introducing formal education in seminaries, where cooperation would be sought from religious scholars, public representatives, civil society and other stakeholders. The campaign would be launched initially in merged districts and later extended to settled districts with lower literacy rate.

The statement said children between 5 to 16 years of age would be specifically targeted for enrolment, and public sector schools would be upgraded on need basis, while teachers, belonging to merged districts posted outside, would also be repatriated.

It said an inquiry would be conducted into missing facilities in schools, besides action would be taken against contractors for failing to construct facilities mentioned in the PC-1. The meeting also decided to constitute a committee for aligning academic curriculum with market needs and requirements of modern era.

The meeting was informed that around 10 million children with 74 per cent girls were out of school in merged districts, and that availability of teaching staff and missing facilities in government schools would be ensured to enroll these children.

“All the surplus schools will be converted into technical and vocational centres. Ghost schools and teachers will be identified, besides special incentives will also be given to teachers and students,” the statement said.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the campaign would prove to be a milestone towards increasing literacy rate in KP, particularly in merged districts. He appreciated the role of Pak Army in devising the campaign.

Ministers Dr Qasim Jan, Dr Aamir Abdullah, Barrister Feroz Jamal Shah Kakakhel, Corps Commander Peshawar Lt-Gen Hassan Azhar Hayat and other civil and military officials attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2024