Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Arshad Ayub has praised the provincial budget for 2026-27 as people-centric, highlighting a substantial increase in education funding. Speaking on Saturday, the minister announced that Rs468.379 billion has been allocated for the education sector, marking an increase of Rs48.64 billion over the previous fiscal year.
Key Allocations and Initiatives
The minister emphasized that the budget prioritizes improving school infrastructure, expanding access to education, and strengthening governance. According to Arshad Ayub, Rs7 billion has been set aside for providing furniture in government schools. Additionally, 72 Chief Minister Model Schools will be established under a Rs10 billion initiative, with Rs1 billion allocated for the project in the current fiscal year.
To address the challenge of out-of-school children, Rs5 billion has been allocated to bring them into classrooms. Furthermore, Rs8.5 billion will be spent on free textbooks, and Rs5 billion has been earmarked for the establishment of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Institute of Applied and Modern Sciences.
Good Governance Roadmap
Under the Good Governance Roadmap, Rs10.34 billion has been allocated for elementary and secondary education initiatives. This includes Rs3.29 billion to improve the management of low-performing schools, Rs360 million for the Education Card Programme, and Rs6.18 billion to strengthen Parent-Teacher Councils. The budget also provides Rs182 million for school upgradation projects in the merged districts and Rs385 million for the Insaf Female and Orphan Education Card Programme.
Government Commitment
Mr Ayub stated that these allocations reflect the government's commitment to improving educational standards, expanding access to learning opportunities, and addressing key challenges facing the sector. The increased funding is expected to have a significant impact on the quality of education in the province.
