US Consul General Raymond McGrath hosted a reception for students in the English Access Micro-Scholarship Programme, along with alumni, teachers, and coordinators from Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women’s University and the Institute of Management Sciences here on Friday.
The event was held to mark the successful completion of ten years of the access programme in KP. Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Muhammad Atif Khan honoured the event participants with his participation.
Dr Razia Sultana, Vice-Chancellor, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women’s University, and Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Khan, Director, Institute of Management Sciences joined in the celebration, along with thirty students and access programme alumni from Peshawar valley and areas as far away as Khyber Agency and Swat.
Consul General McGrath encouraged the students to “take full advantage of their opportunities, continue to pursue their English studies, and be inspired by the successes of access programme alumni”.
Maria Snarski, US Embassy Regional English Language Officer, noted that the access programme prepares students for higher education and to connect with the global community.
The access programme provides a foundation of English language and leadership skills to talented women between the ages of 13 and 20. Since the access programme began in Pakistan in 2005, nearly 15,000 Pakistani students have participated, including more than 1,300 students from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
