PESHAWAR: In a move aimed at improving student well-being and boosting enrollment, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government announced the “School Khaana Programme” during a recent Education Department meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur.
This initiative will provide free meals to students in government primary schools across the province, with a pilot launch planned for Abbottabad and Swat. Upon successful implementation, the program is expected to expand to all divisional headquarters, reaching an estimated 70,000 children daily.
The provincial government has committed significant resources to the program, allocating a yearly budget of Rs 500 million. To ensure smooth operation, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed with the Social Welfare Department and a private welfare organization.
A committee comprised of officials from both the Education and Social Welfare departments will oversee the program’s execution. This committee will finalize all details and present them to the provincial cabinet for final approval.
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Chief Minister Gandapur expressed optimism that the program would not only improve student nutrition but also incentivize enrollment in government schools. He emphasized that the “School Khaana Programme” aligns with the vision of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, prioritizing public welfare. Gandapur further pledged the government’s commitment to launching more such initiatives in the future.
The announcement has generated excitement, with all eyes now set on the finalization of the program’s action plan. This paves the way for the launch of “School Khaana Programme,” a potentially impactful initiative for both student health and educational access in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
