10 June 2010
More than three million children will benefit from free textbooks in the conflict-affected province of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (formerly the North West Frontier Province), and more than 300,000 girls will receive a monthly allowance to encourage them to attend school, Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell announced today.
Speaking on a visit to Peshawar, the capital of the province, the Secretary of State said he was determined to make the country a higher priority for DFID, and that education would be one of his key areas of focus.
He said that support for education is vitally important in a country where half the adult population is illiterate.
This is Mr Mitchell’s second trip overseas since becoming International Development Secretary, after visiting Afghanistan last month. In Islamabad, he met President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, as well as the ministers for finance, education and health, to reiterate the UK’s commitment to Pakistan.
The Secretary of State said:
“Pakistan is facing an education emergency. The facts are shocking. Half the adult population – and two thirds of women - are illiterate. “DFID is committed to supporting the Government of Pakistan in achieving its education goals and speeding up progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. “Following my discussions yesterday we are confident that the Government of Pakistan will ensure that the necessary resources are made available to improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the education system in Pakistan.”
“Pakistan is facing an education emergency. The facts are shocking. Half the adult population – and two thirds of women - are illiterate.
“DFID is committed to supporting the Government of Pakistan in achieving its education goals and speeding up progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.
“Following my discussions yesterday we are confident that the Government of Pakistan will ensure that the necessary resources are made available to improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the education system in Pakistan.”
The security situation in Malakand in 2009 has had a major impact on education in the province, disrupting services to over one million children. The UK support announced today will ensure the continuation of free education in the province.
The children who will immediately benefit from this programme are enrolled in government primary and secondary schools, and are predominantly girls. It will also benefit children from the poorest families who would not be able to attend school without such assistance.
1. The Department for International Development (DFID) is the UK’s Government department responsible for promoting sustainable development and reducing poverty. The central focus of DFID is a commitment to the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals to be achieved by 2015.
2. By 2013, DFID support is projected to help 5 million more children attend primary school.
3. The new education programme in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa is worth £8.13m. The Australian Government through AusAid is co-partnering DFID and providing 11.3m in Australian dollars (£6.87m) for this initiative.
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