TP Report
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW) convened the first meeting of the Provincial Girls Education Oversight and Advisory Committee today under the chairpersonship of Dr. Sumera Shams, Chairperson KPCSW. The meeting marked the committee’s formal operationalization and set the direction for coordinated action to advance girls’ education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The meeting was attended by Amna Sardar (MPA), Asia Khattak (Ex-MPA), Ayesha Naeem (Ex-MPA), Madiha Nisar (Ex-MPA), Dr. Minhas Majeed (Member KPCSW),Humaira Nawaz (Member KPCSW), Naeema Naz (Social Activist),Hina Rahman (Social Activist), a Representative of the Elementary & Secondary Education Department, Qamar Naseem (Program Manager, Blue Veins and Malala Fund Education Champion), and Ms. Shazia Atta, Secretary KPCSW, who also serves as Secretary to the Committee.
Members were briefed on the core objectives and Terms of Reference (TORs) of the committee, which include providing strategic oversight on girls’ education initiatives; reviewing enrolment, retention, transition, and completion trends; monitoring policy commitments and budgetary allocations; identifying gaps related to infrastructure, teachers, safety, and learning outcomes; and strengthening coordination among government departments, civil society, and development partners to translate commitments into measurable outcomes for girls.
Qamar Naseem presented an overview of the current status of girls’ education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, highlighting progress as well as critical challenges. Participants appreciated the policies and initiatives undertaken by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government and the Education Department to improve gender parity in education. However, serious concern was expressed over the 4.9 million out-of-school children in the province, of whom approximately 2.9 million are girls, calling for urgent, targeted, and well-resourced interventions.
Chairperson KPCSW Dr. Sumera Shams emphasized the committee’s accountability role, stating:
“This committee reinforces our commitment to strong oversight and evidence-based action for girls’ education. KPCSW will work closely with the Education Department and relevant stakeholders to advocate for improved and efficient budget allocations, with a specific focus on girls’ secondary education and effective utilization of resources.
Highlighting the broader development impact, Shazia Atta, Secretary KPCSW, stated:
“Girls’ education is directly linked to women’s empowerment, economic participation, and social progress. Increasing and protecting education budgets for girls is essential if we are to break cycles of inequality and ensure that girls are not left behind. This committee provides an important platform to align budgets with gender-responsive education priorities.
Qamar Naseem underscored the importance of collaboration, noting“Addressing the scale of out-of-school girls requires coordinated efforts by government, civil society, and development partners. This committee offers a critical space to align strategies, share evidence, and jointly accelerate progress for girls’ education in the province.
All committee members reaffirmed their collective commitment to working together to strengthen girls’ education through improved policy implementation, accountability, and sustained stakeholder engagement.
