Education Deptt to retain 70% budget on girl’s education in 2023-24.

Shahzad Rasheed

The commitment was reiterated during a pre-budget seminar held in Peshawar, where key stakeholders and officials including line government department and officials, planning section of education department, members of Joint Working Group of Human Rights Institutions on Girls Education, CSOs, subject experts, Human Rights Institutions, Academia and others gathered to discuss strategies for promoting inclusivity and gender equality in education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The seminar was jointly organized by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women KPCSW, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protections and Welfare Commission KPCPWC, Blue Veins, Non-governmental organization and Pakistan Education Champion Network.

KP Government in year 2022-2023, allocated 227,087 billion for Elementary and Secondary education including 17 billion for development budget which included 110 development schemes. The participants of the seminar highlighted that to enroll 2.9 million out of school girls, as reported by Survey conducted in 2021 by Benazir Income Support Program, it is crucial to increase the funds and budgetary allocation with the commitment for effective spending to the fullest.

Joint Working Group of Human Rights Institutions on Girls Education, established by KPCSW also submitted recommendation to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Elementary and Secondary Education for girl’s education-inclusive education budgeting (Fiscal Year 2023-2024).

While addressing the Seminar Ms. Amina Durrani Director Programmes KPCSW said “Girls’ education is a fundamental human right and a strategic priority in the Province for gender equality”.

“we are anticipating that the integration of recommendations submitted today on behalf of Joint Working Group would be of great significance for fostering gender-parity and an inclusive-quality educational environment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” She added.

Muhammad Ijaz, Acting Chief Child Protection and Welfare Commission Said, “keeping in consideration current socio-economic challenges and vulnerabilities for girls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it is crucial to allocate more resources and we are committed to mainstream multi-sectoral collaboration for ending gender-disparity in education.”

Chief Planning Officer Mr. Sher Azam Khan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Elementary and Secondary Education Department KPESE said “recognizing our responsibility to ensure that every girl in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have equal access to quality secondary education, KPESE is committed to make gender equity-driven budget allocation and investment for coming years in girls’ education, so the girls are able to lead the way towards social progress, economic stability, and sustainable development.”

“In the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 110 schemes are ongoing for provision of 5,424 facilities with a distribution of 3,797 for girl’s education institutes and 1,627 for boys, said Mr. Shahab Uallah Senior Planning Officer E&SE.

“we aim to further all development schemes with priority focus on girls focused facilities to promote gender parity and bring all out of school girls into education system.” He added.

Sana Ahmad Program Coordinator Blue Veins said “Ensuring girls’ education is not just the responsibility of the government or educational institutions; but it requires collective action from civil society. We must devise strategies to improve gender-equal educational access and also to address the wider social factors that hinder girls’ access to education, opening doors to endless possibilities for their future.”