KP CM reviews education reforms, approves Rs500m for research centre

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Monday chaired a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister’s House to review ongoing reforms in the education sector and consider new proposals aimed at improving the province’s education system.

According to the details shared from the meeting, participants examined progress on reforms already under way and discussed additional steps focused on expanding access to education, improving quality and encouraging innovation in the sector.

During the meeting, the chief minister directed the release of Rs500 million for the establishment of an Inter-Disciplinary Research Centre in the province. He also approved a proposal to launch community schools in remote areas in an effort to help raise the literacy rate.

The meeting also agreed on expanding the double-shift school programme and introducing Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence courses in educational institutions across the province.

Implementation and follow-up

CM Afridi instructed officials to hold a detailed follow-up meeting soon in order to finalise the next course of action. He also ordered the formation of a coordination committee comprising the relevant authorities to ensure that the proposals agreed during the meeting are implemented on time.

The review session focused on both the pace of current reforms and the planning required for future initiatives. The measures discussed covered infrastructure, access and curriculum-related changes, with the provincial government signalling a broader push to strengthen the education sector.

Chief minister’s remarks

Addressing participants, Afridi said the provincial government had been paying special attention to the education and health sectors over the past five to six months and that positive results were beginning to appear and added that the government was investing in human capital in line with the vision of PTI founder Imran Khan.

The meeting formed part of the provincial government’s ongoing review of public-sector priorities, with education remaining a key area under discussion. The decisions taken on Monday included financial approval for the proposed research centre, support for community schools in far-flung localities, expansion of double-shift schooling and the planned introduction of IT and AI-related courses.

Officials were also tasked with moving the proposals towards implementation through further consultations and coordination among the departments concerned. The chief minister’s directions indicated that the government intends to continue work on both immediate and longer-term education initiatives in the province.