The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has not released funds for “Rokhan Talimee Program” (RTP) (Bright Educational Program) for the last ten years baring as many as 1,620 destitute students of district Swat from appearing in exams and denying them a bright future.
Some 820 female and 800 male students from Swati are enrolled under RTP, initiated by Awami National Party (ANP) government of KP in 2011-12 with the assistance of a non-governmental organization of United Kingdom to support children to continue their education where no government middle or high schools were present.
Under the program the government was providing funds and supporting poor children to attend low cost private middle and high schools in their respective area, an official of education department said.
Sumera, a female student of class ninth and enrolled under RTP, whose parents have died and has strong desire for education, said that she not sure whether she and other students of her class could continue their education and to be allowed to appear in exam to be held in March without paying fee.
She questioned the priority of provincial government towards education of poor students and the initiatives in education and health sectors that PTI claimed off.
The officials of education department said that the provincial government stopped providing funds for RTP from April 2015 and for the last ten years not single penny was released under the program.
They urged PTI leaders and provincial government to take notice of the issue and take prompt steps for release of funds under RTP so that they could appear in the exam and continue their education.
It is to mention here that KP government was providing subsidy to private schools ranging from Rs.330 to Rs.1,650 per month under the head of school fee of poor students.
