The Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) in partnership with one thousand private schools would provide free educational facilities to the students under its Foundation Assisted Schools (FAS) programme in 36 districts. At present, PEF's Foundation Assisted Schools' programme is serving in 29 districts.
A departmental meeting to this effect held under the chairmanship of PEF Chairman Raja Anwar at PEF Board Room on Thursday. PEF-MD, DMD (Op.), Programme Directors and Project Officers were also present in the meeting. The meeting reviewed the pace of expansion of FAS and it is observed that free education for the poor communities is improving their lifestyle as educated siblings are being proved assets for their families.
The meeting was informed that 650 new schools in 29 existing districts while 350 schools in seven new districts including Khanewal, Sahiwal, TT Singh, Faisalabad, Hafizabad, Gujranwala and Kasur will be partnered under FAS expansion programme to accommodate more deserving students. PEF will provide monthly fee as well as text books to partner-school students.
The meeting expressed the satisfaction that FAS programme is also encouraging the poor strata to send their girls to schools for education. Raja Anwar directed that new schools partnership process should be completed according to schedule. Any PEF endeavour to open the doors of free education to the poor will lead to the establishment of a tolerant and child-friendly society, he concluded.