By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi
KHYBER: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government plans to establish a separate Directorate for Primary Schools as part of wider efforts to strengthen early education and improve learning standards across the province, Provincial Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Arshad Ayub has announced.
During a visit to Khyber district, the minister, accompanied by the relevant secretary, was briefed by District Education Officer (Male) Misri Khan and District Education Officer (Female) Nazakat Tabassum on the state of education and the key challenges facing schools in the district.
Arshad Ayub said the government would prioritize addressing the shortage of teachers, expanding educational facilities and promoting girls’ education in Khyber. He stressed that girls should have equal access to education and described gender equality as a key priority.
The minister said the initiative would allow more children to attend school without waiting for new buildings to be constructed.
He said the province’s double-shift school program would be expanded to increase classroom capacity. Around 1,050 public schools are currently operating double shifts, and the government plans to add another 1,000 schools to the program over the next year following consultations with the chief minister. He also pledged to improve basic facilities in government schools and said several schools in Khyber district had been included in new development schemes. Temporary teacher shortages, he added, would be addressed through appointments funded by Parents-Teachers Council (PTC) resources until permanent recruitment is completed.
The minister instructed district monitoring officials to conduct regular school inspections, monitor attendance and ensure education department officers maintain consistent field visits. He said formal duty schedules for officials were being prepared and assured teachers that promotion-related issues would also be addressed.
Arshad Ayub said the government had submitted a proposal to the provincial cabinet to replace the existing single education directorate with two separate directorates, including one dedicated exclusively to primary education. He noted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has around 35,000 schools, including approximately 27,000 primary schools, arguing that stronger investment in early education is essential to improving outcomes at higher levels.
The minister said issues identified during his visit to Khyber district would be addressed in phases. He added that district-level visits, particularly to the merged districts, would continue to assess educational needs and guide future reforms.
He also said the government was preparing a broader education development plan for Khyber district, including the installation of solar energy systems in schools, improvements to basic infrastructure and other projects already included in the current Annual Development Program (ADP).
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