By: Salman Yousafzai
PESHAWAR: A multi-billion-rupee project launched with the support of the World Bank to improve the education sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has failed to achieve its goals even after years. Only $24 million of the $115 million allocated for the project has been spent, official documents reveal.
The project aimed to improve access to primary education in the province, train teachers, improve student skills, build community partnerships and rehabilitate flood-affected schools. However, only a very small portion of the funds allocated in various areas could be spent.
According to the documents, only $12 million out of the $81 million allocated for access to primary education, only $1 million out of the $8 million allocated for teacher training and improving student skills, while funds allocated for community partnerships and awareness were not used sufficiently.
Similarly, only $6 million out of the $18 million allocated for the rehabilitation of flood-affected schools could be spent. The project also included the rehabilitation of schools and the establishment of new classrooms in 12 districts of the province, but these goals have not yet been completed.
This project was launched in 2020 with the support of the World Bank and was to be completed by 2025; however, according to Additional Secretary of the Education Department Qaiser Alam, because of the importance of the project, it has been extended, and now the project will be completed in 2026.
On the other hand, Additional Secretary of the Education Department Qaiser Alam says that work is underway rapidly on the rehabilitation of damaged schools and other goals, and the project will be completed in any case.
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