PESHAWAR: The UN Refugee Agency and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government have enhanced school enrolment rate in the province by creating space for additional 5,000 children and improving learning conditions for over 10,000 children already attending schools through the United Nations’ Refugee Affected and Hosting Area (Raha) initiative, a statement by the UN body said.

Funded by the German Government through Germany’s Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau Development Bank (KfW), the UNHCR together with Ministry of States and Frontiers Regions (Safron), Commissionerate for Afghan Refugee, provincial education minister Atif Khan and German Ambassador to Pakistan Ina Lepel inaugurated a newly-constructed Government Primary School (GPS.3) in Hayatabad.

The GPS.3 School is one of the 31 primary public schools, which the UNHCR has rehabilitated through partner agencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province under Raha education interventions.

Praises KP govt for giving Afghans access to education

In education sector alone, through the Raha, a total of 12 projects worth Rs277 million funded by the Federal Republic of Germany (through KfW) and the US government, have so far been implemented and handed over to the provincial Education Department.

All the schools that have been renovated and upgraded are located in deprived areas where Afghan refugees live side by side with the local population, the statement said.

Speaking on the occasion, education minister Atif Khan said the provincial government had been focused on education and health sectors.

He said that the education sector had been completely revamped through significant budget allocation and that the government was getting closer to achieving its goal of improving literacy rates in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In her address the German ambassador to Pakistan, Ms. Ina Lepel appreciated the efforts made by the UNHCR and the government counterparts for realising important project.

She also underlined the need for supporting the communities hosting Afghan refugees for so many years along with the refugees themselves.

Addressing the audience, UNHCR representative in Pakistan Indrika Ratwatte reaffirmed the UNHCR’s commitment to enhance the capacity of the provincial government in education sector.

He appreciated the provincial government’s efforts for allowing Afghan refugee children access to government schools alongside Pakistani children.

The project valuing around Rs14 million was implemented by UNHCR partner, Holistic Understanding for Justified Research and Action, a local NGO.

The main project components included construction of the entire school building comprising eight classrooms, seven latrines and boundary wall, provision of a water tank and playground equipment, and mobilisation and capacity building of the school’s Parent Teachers Association.

The event was also attended by senior government officials of the Afghan Refugee Commissionerate and the education department; Head of UNHCR Sub-Office Peshawar, Oscar Mundia and other senior officials from UN agencies, UNHCR partner organisations and members of the school’s PTAs and school students.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2016