The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government announced new School Improvement Plans (SIPs) today aiming to upgrade public school infrastructure, boost teacher performance, and improve student outcomes across the province. The program was unveiled by Faisal Khan Tarakai, Minister for Elementary & Secondary Education, during a gathering of school heads and education officials.
Under the SIPs, KP has introduced a reward and accountability system to recognize high-performing schools and hold underperforming ones to account. Minister Tarakai said all schools will be better equipped with furniture and improved facilities. He also announced the establishment of Centers of Excellence in every district and efforts to bring in Early Childhood Education and community schools, even in the merged districts.
A major component is teacher capacity: Rs14 billion has been set aside for teacher training this year. Over 17,000 teachers will be recruited on merit, and 2,500 internships offered to highly qualified graduates. Tarakai stressed that performance will be the sole benchmark.
The plan includes reforms in examination systems. The government will assign duties based on merit, monitor exam centers via CCTV, and introduce Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)-based papers to ensure fairness. A new Education Card scheme will support students with books, scholarships, and other help. Enrollment drives are being pushed, with Rs5 billion earmarked to bring out-of-school children into classrooms.
These efforts build on earlier reforms. The province has also moved to introduce teaching licenses for educators to ensure quality and standardization. Only licensed and registered teachers will be permitted to teach, overseen by a regulatory body. Meanwhile, in its latest budget, KP allocated Rs364 billion for the education sector, up from last year, including development funds earmarked for new classrooms, improving facilities, and expanding access.
