CM inaugurates school enrollment campaign, Shafqat, Qadri attend

KHYBER, Apr 08 (APP):Pwr Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mehmood Khan Monday inaugurated school enrollment drive called as “ Ao Bacho School Chalain” to encourage and get enrolled out of school children in the tribal district.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Noorul Haq Qadri, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmud and Adviser Education Ziaullah Bangash were also present in the ceremony besides parents and officials of the education department.

The CM said land of Khyber district was very fertile and its people offered supreme sacrifices for the sake of the country.

He said number out of school children stood at 2600000 and efforts were underway to get enrolled 800000 children in schools this year.

He added the government was committed to providing access to quality education to each child and added that free education was being offered to children aged between eight to 16 years.

Referring to government’s initiatives for tribal districts’ uplift, the KP chief ministers said the prime minister had directed to initiate consultation process with tribesmen for the development progamme of the tribal region and added that due consideration would be given to the priorities of the tribal people.

He said that government would grant scholarship and financial assistance to deserving and brilliant children in order to encourage them to get education and play role for the country’s prosperity.

The chief minister also directed concerned department to provide incentives to teachers who had to travel from remote areas for performing duties. The chief minister also directed district education officer to pay regular visit to schools in his or her area and monitor performance of teachers.

Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood said the government had resolved to promote literacy across the country. He also appreciated teachers especially female one who come from far-off areas to teach schools in the tribal districts, adding they deserved to be rewarded.

He said that launching of school enrollment drive in the Khyber district reflected the government’s love and sincerity towards the tribal districts development.

Adviser to Chief Minister on Tribal Disticts Ajmal Wazir that lack or absence of education was one of the root causes for sense of deprivation among the people of tribal districts, so, he added that government had resolved to provide due rights to people of the tribal districts and access to education.

Federal Religious Minister Noorul Haq Qadri said that education played important role in a country’s socio-economic development so prosperity and development would be achieved for the tribal districts by equipping children of the area with quality education.

Education adviser appealed parents to come forward and get enrolled their children in schools. He said the education department had advertised 2400 posts for the tribal districts, adding the chief minister had granted approval to 4000 more posts for those districts.