KP Launches Door-To-Door Survey For Out-Of-School Children

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has initiated a comprehensive door-to-door survey to identify out-of-school children in the province. This initiative was finalized following a memorandum of understanding between key departments, including Elementary and Secondary Education, Local Government, Health, and Social Welfare. The survey will cover the entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region to pinpoint the exact number and locations of children aged 5 to 16 who are not attending school.

The 2023 census indicates that there are approximately 4.9 million children in this age group within the province, while the education department estimates that 2.6 million of them are currently out of school.

The government plans to enroll 60% of these out-of-school children immediately as part of the first phase of the project. Additional data will be collected on children up to the age of five to aid in future school planning. Various methods will be employed to educate these children, including government schools, double shifts, community schools, digital platforms, and private partnerships.

Students who are unable to attend school due to poverty will be supported through scholarships, Zakat, and other forms of social assistance. Teenagers aged 14 to 16 will have access to vocational training under the United Nations’ "Generation Unlimited" program.

To ensure transparency and accuracy, provincial and district-level steering committees will oversee the project, while an independent body will verify 5% of the surveyed data. Scholarship payments for enrolled children will be contingent upon maintaining at least 75% attendance.