School set up for Afghan children in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: KP Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Muhammad Atif Khan said on Monday that education was a priority of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led coalition government and 70 per cent problems regarding education system across the province have been solved during the last three years. He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of newly constructed Government Primary School (GPS) No 3 at Hayatabad. It is one of 31 schools that the UNHCR has established through donor agencies in KP for education of Afghan children.

Those who spoke on the occasion included Muhammad Shehzad Arbab, secretary Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), Ina Lepel, German Ambassador, and Indrika Ratwatte, UNCHR representative in Pakistan.

The minister said the previous governments had not given proper attention to education sector that caused many issues in KP’s education system.Ina Lepel appreciated the efforts by various stakeholders for realising this important project. She stressed the need to support those communities, which had been hosting Afghan refugees for several years.  She added the improvement of living conditions regarding education, health and community infrastructure was a key concern to the German development cooperation.

Indrika Ratwatte reaffirmed the UNHCR’s commitment to enhance capacity of the KP government in education sector. He appreciated the provincial government efforts for allowing Afghan children’s access to government sector schools.