‘Waseela-e-Taleem’ of BISP enrolls more than 1 million children

Islamabad

The ‘Waseela-e-Taleem’ (WeT) of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has reached the target of enrolling more than 1 million children in 32 districts of the country.

The figures were shared by Minister of State and Chairperson BISP MNA Marvi Memon on her visit to Government Girls High School, Safdarabad, on Tuesday. The official celebration of the programme will be launched by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar early next year. 

It was definitely a pleasant surprise for the children studying under BISP's 'Waseela-e-Taleem' (WeT) initiative at Government Girls High School, Safdarabad, to find Minister of State and Chairperson BISP MNA Marvi Memon among them.

The girl school of poverty ridden community of Safdarabad has around 11,000 students in total which goes to show the strong desire of people for sending their girls to school whereas the school had only three rooms to accommodate this number of students which reflects upon the need to improve the condition of government schools. The school has enrolled 45 students under WeT programme.

 “The local community of this area is very poor. A good number of students come to school without breakfast. Their mothers promise them to bring lunch for them at 10 am but they never show up. The school provides such children breakfast,” said Shaista Bano, Principal of Government Girls High School, Safdarabad.

She said that WeT has enabled many children to get education who have never dreamt of entering into the school,” she said adding that 42 more children will join the school shortly under WeT.

Many might not even recognize Marvi Memon but they were aware of the government’s help that made it possible for their mothers to enroll them in school. “I will become a madam when I grow up,” answered Hajra Bibi of class four when the State Minister asked about her future plans.

The WeT programme has been able to enroll more than 1 million children under four-year Co-responsibility Cash Transfer (CCT) programme which was initiated to financially support the primary education of 5 to 12 years old children of BISP beneficiary families.

Each beneficiary child receives a cash transfer of Rs 750 per quarter on meeting the admission verification in first quarter and attendance requirement of 70 per cent in subsequent quarters till completion of primary education. The design of the programme was developed by BISP in consultation with all the stakeholders of the programme including World Bank, DFID and provincial and regional education departments.

Under the WeT programme, total Rs993.50 million have been disbursed to the beneficiaries in 32 districts of the country. Rs.161.80 Million were disbursed in initial five districts and Rs. 831 Million in extended 27 districts.

BISP set a target of reaching out to 1.3 million children of beneficiary families in 32 districts by June, 2016 and has to-date enrolled one million children wherein 47 per cent of the programme beneficiaries are girls.

Speaking on this occasion, Chairperson BISP said that BISP’s endeavors towards the issues of poverty and education are in line with the present government’s commitment to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and vision 2025. She said that BISP aims to expand WeT initiative to the entire country beyond 32 districts as the organization has an equalizer policy towards every region of the country. Marvi urged philanthropists and cooperate sector to extend their cooperation for the noble cause of educating the poor.

Marvi Memon congratulated WeT team under the leadership of Secretary BISP Muhammad Saleem Ahmed Ranjha, DFID, World Bank and Aurat Foundation on this great achievement.