STAFF REPORT
PESHAWAR: Provincial Minister for Education, Mr. Faisal Khan Tarakai, emphasized that the provision of quality education remains the top priority of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. Speaking at a high-level meeting of school heads at Nishtar Hall, Peshawar, he stated that teachers bear a great responsibility in shaping the future of students and must focus their energies on implementing SLO-based (Student Learning Outcomes) teaching methods while eliminating rote learning from the education system. He asserted that reforms are being introduced to restore public trust in government schools by improving the system through the integration of modern technology. The digitization of teaching and the entire education infrastructure is actively underway. The Minister acknowledged that the province, especially the merged districts, has suffered from the devastating impacts of terrorism, which severely damaged the educational structure. However, he commended the relentless efforts of teachers, education officials, and experts, which have led to remarkable improvements, as evident from the outstanding results in this year’s matriculation exams. The provincial government is committed to revolutionary reforms in education, allocating a record PKR 364 billion – 21% of the total provincial budget – for the education sector, in line with the vision of Imran Khan and the pro-education policies of the current administration. Special initiatives are also being taken to bring out-of-school children into the education system, and recent reports indicate that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa now has the lowest number of out-of-school children in Pakistan. Participants included Commissioner Peshawar Division Riaz Khan Mehsud, Secretary Education Muhammad Khalid Khan, Special Secretary Abdul Basit, MD Elementary and Secondary Education Foundation Qaisar Alam, chairpersons of all provincial boards, Director Education Naheed Anjum, DEOs, and school heads. Mr. Tarakai announced the integration of education data, introduction of School Management Systems (SMS), and School Improvement Plans (SIPs). Special attention is being paid to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) of teachers, equipping them with modern training and tools. Staff rotations will be implemented for those who have completed their tenures in District Professional Development Centers (DPDCs) and Regional Professional Development Centers (RPDCs), offering new opportunities to others. Schools and teachers showing poor performance in recent exams will be held accountable, while top-performing educators and principals will be rewarded with certificates and incentives. He urged school leaders to implement these reforms effectively in their schools, ensuring that their benefits reach students directly.