The Unfulfilled Promises: The Decline of Girls' Stipend Program in KP

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the girls' stipend initiative aimed to boost school attendance has been halted due to lack of funds, despite government promises. This reflects systemic neglect towards women's education in Pakistan, revealing a dissonance between government pledges and actions.

Women's education in Pakistan continues to face systemic roadblocks and cultural challenges, further compounded by insufficient state support. Nowhere is this more evident than in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where a crucial stipend program for encouraging girls' school attendance has been effectively terminated over the past three years.

Initially launched by the Awami National Party-led provincial government post-2008 elections, the initiative offered Rs 200 monthly to each girl student from Grade 6 to Grade 10 in government schools. Despite the program's visible success, it has not seen disbursement since the 2022-23 financial year. The education department has done its part in preparing and forwarding requisite documentation, yet the provincial finance department persistently fails to allocate the needed Rs 3.8 billion annually to assist the 600,000 eligible students.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led KP government had announced an increase in the stipend from Rs 200 to Rs 500 per month. However, this increase remained unimplemented as funds were not released, effectively discontinuing the program. School headmistresses expressed their despair, with families frequently questioning the non-payment of stipends and emphasizing the program's integral role in community education. This scenario highlights Pakistan's superficial commitment to girls' education and the larger systemic apathy towards meaningful policy implementation.

(With inputs from agencies.)