Shahzad Rasheed
Civil Society Organizations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa extend its appreciation to Ex-Provincial Government for unprecedent initiatives for Girls Education and demands upcoming government for retaining effective policies to prioritize recovery of loss to girl’s education due to flood crisis.
A press conference was organized on Monday by Blue Veins, a non-governmental organization, and Pakistan Education Champion Network PECN working to promote girls’ education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The speakers at the press conference demanded the upcoming provincial government for prioritizing girls’ education as development priority for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and allocating increased budget resources to strengthen access to education for vulnerable girls affected by humanitarian crises especially.
There are 33,464 government schools for 5.45 million children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the recent floods has further damaged about 1500 government schools and according to Government report on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Flood Damages & Assessments, estimated 9,150 (Millions)is the estimated Restoration cost.
While addressing the press conference, Mr. Qamar Naseem Program Manger Blue Veins and Education Champion from PECN said “Recent floods and resulted humanitarian crisis have devastating effects on education sector as well. Taking forward the commitment for improved access, retention, and enrollment to education for girls, upcoming Government must make efficient resource allocation and equitable policy actions.”
“Investment in inclusive and gender-responsive education models that respond to the unique needs of girls especially from vulnerable settings must be a priority for all stakeholders” he added.
Sana Ahmad, Provincial Coordinator Child Rights Movement Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said “Bringing 2.9 million out -of-school girls of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the number reported by Benazir Income Support Programme Survey report 2021, should the main target and indicator for social and economic development. Sustainable allocation of funds and efficient spending are the key strategies to catalyze the transformative potential of girls’ education.”
There are total 4.7 million out-of-school children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and according to Elementary and Secondary Education Department over 15,000 additional government schools are for the enrolment of out of school children.
Iqra Seemab, Project Coordinator Blue Veins said “Humanitarian responses that ignore girls’ education leave generations of girls less equipped to recover from crises, and entrench gender inequalities. There is a strong consensus that gender equality in education remains a priority for all.”
“girls-education inclusive humanitarian and non-humanitarian response and policies is collective responsibility of all the stakeholder and we anticipate that enhancing the girls’ access to secondary education will remain at the heart of strategies and programs of upcoming government.” She added.