Heads of Schools Education Conference Held in Mardan. Provincial Minister Faisal Khan Tarkai Highlights Education Reforms
Heads of Schools Education Conference Held in Mardan. Provincial Minister Faisal Khan Tarkai Highlights Education Reforms
A major Heads of Schools Education Conference was held at the Bacha Khan Medical College Auditorium, Mardan, jointly organized by the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (E&SE) and the Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education (BISE) Mardan. The conference brought together headmasters and principals from Mardan, Nowshera, and Swabi districts.
The event was graced by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Elementary & Secondary Education, Faisal Khan Tarkai, as chief guest. Secretary E&SE Muhammad Khalid Khan, Director Education Naheed Anjum, Chairman BISE Mardan Prof. Jehanzaib, district education officers (male & female), and hundreds of school heads attended the gathering. The proceedings began with recitation of the Holy Quran, Na’at, and national songs presented by students, creating a spiritual and patriotic atmosphere.
In his address, Minister Faisal Khan Tarkai emphasized that all educational reforms revolve around providing quality education to every child—ensuring teacher availability, modern facilities, and an effective assessment system to evaluate students’ abilities fairly. He underscored that teachers, parents, school heads, curriculum developers, and training institutions must work collectively to prepare students for future challenges.
Highlighting key reforms, the Minister stated that the government is integrating departmental systems, introducing School Improvement Plans, and strengthening the accountability process. Performance will be the sole benchmark, with incentives for high achievers and accountability for underperformers.
He further added that PKR 14 billion has been allocated for teacher training this year. A reward and accountability system is now in place across the education sector. 100% of schools will be equipped with furniture and improved facilities. Centers of Excellence will be established in every district. Early Childhood Education centers and community schools are being set up, including in merged districts. Recruitment of 17,000 teachers on merit is underway, along with 2,500 teaching internships for highly qualified graduates.
A new Education Card scheme is being launched to provide students with books, scholarships, and other facilities.
Regarding examinations, he highlighted that duties are being assigned on merit, monitoring is conducted through CCTV cameras, and SLO-based papers are being introduced to ensure transparency and fairness. He directed board officials to review recent matric and intermediate examinations and submit detailed performance-based reports.
Speaking on enrollment, the Minister said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has the lowest out-of-school children ratio in Pakistan, and the government is working to bring every child into schools. For the ongoing enrollment campaign, PKR 5 billion has been allocated.
Addressing the participants, Secretary E&SE Muhammad Khalid Khan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the education sector, stressing that teachers must play their role in implementing the reform agenda. Director Education Naheed Anjum presented a comparative review of examination results, noting that Mardan Board’s outcomes still lag behind Abbottabad and Peshawar, though recent intermediate results were encouraging.
Prof. Jehanzaib, Chairman BISE Mardan, also addressed the gathering, elaborating on paper-setting and evaluation processes.
At the conclusion of the event, shields were awarded to district education officers and school heads demonstrating outstanding performance.
