A delegation of the Rise and Shine Girls Education Network, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, met provincial parliamentarians to discuss measures regarding advancement of female education in the province.
The delegation, led by a ninth-grade student, Maham Nafees, urged lawmakers to play an effective role by raising the issue in the provincial assembly to improve female literacy and expand educational opportunities for girls across the province.
The meeting between girl students and parliamentarians was facilitated by Qamar Naseem, Education Champion Malala Fund and Programme Manager Blue Veins. Parliamentarians who attended the meeting included MPA Aiman Jalil, MPA Shazia Tehmas, MPA Farzana Shireen, MPA Mehr Sultana, and MPA Shahida Waheed Khan Hoti.
Prominent politician and Information Secretary of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Abdul Jalil Jan, was also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Maham Nafees said a large number of children in the province are out of schools, including around 2.9 million girls.
She added that, according to available data, a significant proportion of girls in KP, around 52 percent aged between five and 16, remain out of school, missing opportunities for education.
She said the sharp increase in petroleum prices had significantly raised transportation costs, forcing many parents to withdraw their children, particularly girls, from schools.
Adding that transportation charges had increased from around Rs.1,000 to Rs. 4,000-5,000 per month, placing an unbearable burden on low-income families.
Maham further informed the parliamentarians that in 10 districts of KP, the provincial government has already announced free transportation facilities for girl students and urged that this initiative be expanded across the province.
Fatima Ayaz, an eighth-grade student at a government middle school in Peshawar, highlighted the challenges faced by female students due to inadequate hygiene and sanitation facilities in her school.
She said most girls avoid drinking water at school due to concerns over its poor quality and hygiene.
She added that many washroom taps remain dry or non-functional, creating serious difficulties for students and negatively affecting their health, comfort and learning environment.
Another student also raised concerns about the non-provision of free textbooks in schools, despite government announcements.
The delegation members urged parliamentarians to play an effective role in convincing concerned authorities to prioritize STEM education in the province, stressing its importance in today’s era of technology, innovation and digital transformation.
They said equipping students, particularly girls, with STEM skills is essential for improving educational opportunities, enhancing employability, and enabling them to compete in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
Qamar Naseem, Education Champion of the Malala Fund and Programme Manager at Blue Veins, on this occasion highlighted the role of parliamentarians in ensuring proper utilization of schemes and funds for education, with special focus on girls, in the annual budget.
He said that while girl schools in around 13 districts are receiving hygiene-related facilities from World Bank, the government has yet to expand this initiative to other districts using its own resources.
Speaking to the girl students, parliamentarians said that a resolution has already been submitted in the provincial assembly declaring the upcoming fiscal year 2026-27 as the “Year for Revival of Girls’ Education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
They thanked students for sharing their viewpoint and assured them of full support in addressing issues in the education sector, improving school facilities and bringing out-of-school children back into formal learning institutions.