The female literacy rate is just 26 percent in District Battagram while the rest of 74 percent women are totally illiterate. Ambassador of Netherland Gajus Scheltema said while addressing a ceremony organised by a non-governmental organisation, Save the Children at the launch of the four-year education programme titled "Program for Establishing Partnership and Stability" (PEPAS) in Battagram district of Hazzara Division.
He said that the Netherland government would provide 14 million Euros for improving and expanding primary and secondary education schools and Maddaris system in Battagram district of Hazzara Division while a memorandum of understanding to this effect had already been signed last month between Save the Children and government of Khyber Pukhtoonkhawa.
The objective of the programme was to improve quality of education, especially for girls and expanding livelihood and job opportunities for youth from the area. The ambassador said that the programme would improve education management and governance by district and local public and religious authorities.
"This programme can make a sustainable difference in Battagram district if strong partnerships develop between local communities, government, private sector and other development partners", the Ambassador maintained. "We are providing substantial financial and technical support for the short-term, anticipating that Battagram district and provincial administration take full responsibility and ensure free and quality education for all children in the long term," the ambassador added.
He maintained that the said programme would build schools, provide equipments, train teachers and establish entrepreneurships for the parents. The ambassador emphasised that this is second phase of such programme of the Netherland government as the first phase was launched in the tribal Allai valley of the district, which was successfully implemented after the devastating 2005 earthquake.
He added that the programme would benefit 25,3000 inhabitants (60 percent total population) including 42,000 children. Of them 24,000 school going, 10,000 out of school and 8,000 Madrassa students from 31,250 households, he maintained. To a question, he said that through the progamme, the learning of the Maddris students would be expanded and they would also be provided technical assistance and infrastructure would be built in their institutions.
Divid Wright, Country Director, Save the Children said that the programme would reach out to 60 percent population of district Battagram and it would not only ensure access to quality education for at least 32,000 students in the schools and Maddaris, but would also provide livelihood opportunities to 31,250 households through various interventions.