PESHAWAR (July 28, 2025) — A coalition of civil society groups, including Blue Veins, the Pakistan Education Champions Network (PECN), and the Rise and Shine Girls Education Leadership Network, has strongly endorsed the launch of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) revamped Good Governance Roadmap, a comprehensive plan aimed at revitalizing the province’s struggling education system through equity-focused and data-driven reforms.
The strategic initiative, spearheaded by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and jointly presented by Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah and Provincial Education Minister Faisal Khan Tarakai, signals a powerful policy shift toward resolving the deep-rooted challenges in education—particularly the exclusion of girls and underserved communities.
As part of the education pillar, the provincial government has set ambitious targets, including a 50% reduction in the number of out-of-school children (OOSC) and substantial improvements in learning outcomes in public schools by 2027. The announcement reflects a renewed political will to bridge educational disparities and improve public sector accountability.
One of the cornerstone strategies of the roadmap involves outsourcing 1,500 underperforming government schools to vetted non-state education providers through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework. This marks a paradigm shift in education delivery, with the aim of improving school management, teacher attendance, and classroom quality, especially in conflict-prone and remote districts.
The decision resonates with years of advocacy by PECN and other education activists, who have pushed for innovative models that improve both access and outcomes while ensuring transparency and inclusive governance.
“This roadmap answers our long-standing calls for reform based on evidence, inclusion, and accountability,” said Qamar Naseem, Program Manager at Blue Veins and a member of PECN. “It provides a serious opportunity to improve education access for girls—especially those who are historically left behind due to poverty, gender norms, and security challenges.”
The Rise and Shine Girls Education Leadership Network also highlighted the policy shift as critical for adolescent girls, many of whom are pushed out of school due to early marriages, mobility restrictions, and socio-cultural biases.
“Investing in girls’ education is not only just—it is economically smart,” emphasized Maham Nafees, a member of the network. “We’re especially optimistic about the PPP initiative. If implemented with strong oversight, it can redefine learning environments and empower a generation of young women.”
The education roadmap comes as KP grapples with one of the highest out-of-school children rates in Pakistan, with girls in rural and tribal areas facing the steepest hurdles. According to the Pakistan Education Statistics 2024, nearly 32% of children aged 5–16 in the province remain out of school, with girls comprising over 60% of that figure.
The civil society organizations have urged the KP government to ensure inclusive consultations, establish gender-sensitive monitoring mechanisms, and involve local communities and school councils in the decision-making and evaluation processes.
They concluded by reaffirming their commitment to work alongside the provincial leadership to monitor reform outcomes and ensure no girl is left behind in the quest for equitable and quality education.
