KP approves funding for research centre and expansion of schools

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi on Monday chaired an important meeting to review ongoing reforms in the education sector and deliberate on a range of new initiatives aimed at improving literacy and access to quality education.

The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Salman Akram Raja, Arshad Ayub, educationists, and officers of the education department.

During the session, the chief minister directed the release of Rs500 million for the establishment of an interdisciplinary research centre, terming it a crucial step towards promoting innovation and academic excellence.

Participants also agreed on the establishment of community schools in remote areas to enhance literacy rates and ensure access to education in underserved regions. The meeting further approved the expansion of the double-shift school programme to accommodate more students.

In a move to modernise education, the chief minister endorsed the introduction of Information Technology (IT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) courses in the curriculum.

He instructed authorities to convene a detailed follow-up meeting to finalise proposals and prepare a comprehensive action plan at the earliest. A coordination committee will also be formed to oversee the implementation of reforms and ensure effective monitoring.

The chief minister expressed satisfaction over progress made in key initiatives, including the e-transfer policy, uniform curriculum, semester system, monitoring mechanisms, teacher training, school-based assessments, virtual schooling, and the introduction of AI courses.

Emphasising the importance of human development, Afridi said the government’s focus on education and health sectors was yielding positive results. “Health and education are directly linked to the well-being of the people,” he said, adding that investments in these areas were being made in line with the vision of former prime minister Imran Khan.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that no child is deprived of the fundamental right to education, stressing the need to promote modern educational trends while guaranteeing equal access for all.