KP Education Foundation launches digitalisation initiative

PESHAWAR: In order to promote transparency and meritocracy, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Foundation (KPEF) on Friday formally launched a digitalisation project to ensure online display and access to all the activities of the organisation.

Provincial Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony. In his welcome address, Managing Director KPEF Zariful Maani spoke about progress and goals of the digitalization project. He said that the first phase of the initiative has successfully completed the digitalisation of scholarships and the department’s official website.

“Work on the remaining modules is ongoing and expected to be finalized soon,” said, adding the manual scholarship system had been plagued with challenges, which have now been addressed through digitalisation to eliminate interference and pressure from influential people.

Students, he said, can now access online application procedures, as well as links to scholarship opportunities in national and international universities. “The digital system ensures transparency in every step of the scholarship process, from application to selection.

This initiative will make the distribution of scholarship funds more transparent and equitable and it will also secure the data of the foundation,” he added.To further enhance user experience, he said, an online platform has been established for addressing grievances of students and employees, aiming to resolve issues and reduce feelings of neglect. In the first phase, the department’s official website has been made fully operational and active, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Meena Khan Afridi emphasised the importance of transparency in the digitalised system, which would ensure scholarships were awarded to deserving students without external influence.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to merit-based reforms and highlighted the foundational purpose of scholarships as a means to empower talented students.He lauded the role of Zariful Maani and his team for their efforts to put the KPEF system on modern lines. He stated that the government had dedicated itself to ensuring fairness by eliminating favoritism and fostering a merit-based culture.

“We believe in giving every deserving individual their due right,” he remarked. Afridi assured that he has never and would not entertain requests for favouritism, emphasizing that only deserving students should benefit from the scholarship system.