KP Govt to launch integrated drive to enroll out-of-school children

The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has planned a comprehensive multi-departmental initiative aimed at systematically reducing the number of out-of-school children across the province through coordinated planning, real-time data collection and targeted social support interventions

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Apr, 2026) The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has planned a comprehensive multi-departmental initiative aimed at systematically reducing the number of out-of-school children across the province through coordinated planning, real-time data collection and targeted social support interventions.

The initiative, developed under the provincial government’s Good Governance Roadmap, was reviewed during a high-level meeting jointly chaired by Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Arshad Ayub Khan and Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah at the Chief Secretary’s Office.

The meeting was attended by Secretaries of Elementary and Secondary Education, Secretary Social Welfare Departments, representatives of the Health and Local Government departments, and officials from UNICEF.

A detailed briefing was presented on the proposed province-wide survey mechanism designed to generate accurate, village council-level data on children who are out of school.

The survey will identify children aged 5 to 16 who are not attending school, estimate future enrollment needs for children aged 0 to 5, and compile comprehensive data on children already enrolled in educational institutions both government and private.

Officials informed the meeting that the in-school data will cover students enrolled in provincial and Federal government schools, private educational institutions, madrassas, non-formal education centres and other special education initiatives operating in the province.

According to the briefing, the 2023 census estimated approximately 4.9 million out-of-school children in the province. However, the government expects the fresh household- and school-level survey to provide more precise and actionable data, enabling the Education Department to align planning, budgeting and resource allocation with area-specific needs.

The Health and Local Government departments will play a central role in the exercise by supporting data collection through their existing grassroots outreach systems.

Officials said the integrated database would help establish a real-time mapping mechanism for out-of-school children and support future enrollment projections

The meeting was further informed that the Social Welfare Department has been designated as a social support partner to assist vulnerable families whose children remain out of school due to poverty and livelihood pressures.

The department will develop support mechanisms aimed at reducing financial barriers that prevent children from continuing their education.

Education officials told the forum that the existing public education infrastructure currently has the capacity to accommodate up to 25 percent additional students through immediate enrollment measures.

They added that a 100-day execution plan has already been prepared under which the government aims to enroll nearly 60 percent of out-of-school children on immediate basis. Officials noted that achieving enrollment targets for the remaining 40 percent would require additional resources, infrastructure expansion and strategic realignment of development planning and budgeting.

Appreciating the proposed strategy, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah directed all concerned departments to finalize Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for formal coordination among stakeholders.

He further instructed that the 100-day implementation plan be presented before the provincial cabinet for approval and formal launch

Minister Arshad Ayub Khan emphasized the role of the private sector and said that the provincial government will create an enabling environment for their maximum contribution in this cause.

“We are committed to ensuring that every child in the province gets the opportunity for school enrollment and successfully completes basic education without delay,” he said.