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| June 12, 2006 | Monday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 15, 1427 |
Free education for tribal youths in army schools
PESHAWAR, June 11: The government has finalised a plan for providing free education to tribal youths by admitting them to army public schools and colleges.
Speaking at a ceremony held in Bannu in connection with the admission of 50 students of North and South Waziristan agencies to the Army Public School in Bannu, Maheen-ud-Din Shah of Wana (South Waziristan Agency), whose son Tahir Maheen Shah has been admitted there, said: “The government has recently chalked out a plan in this regard. We are grateful to the government for providing our youths the opportunity of studying in educational institutions of a high standard.”
He said: “Tribesmen are grateful to the Pakistan Army for extending our children such a facility. Our desire of educating our youth in quality educational institutions will now be fulfilled and will enable them to play their part in the development of their area and their country.”
Abdul Munaf, a student at the same school, felt extremely excited at being admitted there, adding he felt the difference of studying in an ordinary school and a school of high quality.
He said that the Pakistan Army had extended them all facilities, including free education, boarding and lodging.
Another student, Kaleemullah from South Waziristan Agency, felt the same and was hopeful of a bright future after getting admission there.
He said in the present age of competition, where modern and latest education is required in each sector, tribal students would greatly benefit from the opportunity.
An ISPR official said the plan had been jointly conceived by the Pakistan Army and the Ministry of Education but the plan would be funded by the army.
He said: “It is a long term plan under which 50 students from different agencies of FATA would be selected through a strict recruitment procedure and admitted to different schools and colleges of the army. The objective of the plan is to promote inter and intra-tribal harmony.”
He said: “An existing building of the Pakistan Army was renovated at a cost of Rs1 million and made into a campus for these students. The campus has been named as ‘Cadet Campus Waziristan’.”
He said that the corps commander, Peshawar, Lt Gen Mohammad Hamid Khan, during his visit to the campus directed authorities concerned that the students be provided pocket money, adding that the monthly expenditure was estimated around Rs4,000 per student.
Giving details about tribal students studying in different colleges under the facility, the ISPR official said that 14 students were studying in the Army Public School Nowshera, five in the Chinar College Murree, four in the Sargodha Spirit Trust School, 10 in the Cadet College Razmak, and 10 in the Cadet College Kohat. He said that some students were also studying at the Military College Jhelum.
He said President Pervez Musharraf has also issued directives for admitting an additional 200 tribal students in different army schools and colleges across the country.
He said a plan to set up army public schools in FATA is also under consideration to impart quality education in their own area.
In this connection, he said a decision has been taken for construction of army public schools at Wana (South Waziristan Agency) and Miranshah (North Waziristan Agency).
He said the government is concentrating on development of FATA and for the purpose special attention is being given to the educational sector.
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