LAKKI MARWAT/LOWER DIR: The elementary and secondary education department organised a rally and a walk in Lakki Marwat and Lower Dir districts on Tuesday to raise awareness about children’s enrolment in public sector schools.

Additional assistant commissioner Mohammad Arif Khan and district education officer Shaukat Ali Khan led the rally held in the Lakki city.

The participants included district Khateeb Maulana Abdul Wahab, officials of the education department, education monitoring authority, religious scholar Maulana Tamizuddin, office-bearers of teachers’ organisations, school heads, teachers, students and civil society activists.

The participants carried banners with messages regarding the importance of children’s admission to schools.

Dept claims to have enrolled 24,000 children in Dir schools

Speaking on the occasion, the additional assistant commissioner asked parents to send their children to school as getting education was their fundamental right.

DEO Ali Khan said people should trust the public sector schools being run with their taxes for a ‘bright future’ for their children.

He asked the citizens to identify shortage of teachers, furniture and other missing facilities in schools so the department could take quick remedial measures.

Earlier, at a function, the DEO along with other ESED officials, representatives of teachers’ bodies and religious leaders enrolled several children in government primary schools by signing their admission forms.

The newly-enrolled students also received free textbooks and schoolbags.

Meanwhile, the elementary and secondary education department, Lower Dir, on Tuesday announced it had achieved its target of enrolling 24,000 out-of-school children in public sector schools as part of the ongoing enrolment campaign set to continue until April 30.

The announcement was made by DEO Inayatullah Khan at the conclusion of an awareness walk held in Timergara.

The event was organised to raise public awareness about the importance of education and to encourage community participation in the campaign.

The walk saw participation from education officials, including deputy district education officer Fayazuddin, students, and a large number of parents.

Addressing a ceremony following the walk, DEO Inayatullah, deputy commissioner Mohammad Arif Khan, and others highlighted the transformative role of education in fostering a progressive and responsible society. They stressed that access to quality education was essential for individual and collective growth.

The speakers noted that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was actively distributing free textbooks to millions of students and was working to address a shortfall of 2,400 teachers in Lower Dir through upcoming recruitment via a competitive examination through a testing agency.

They urged all segments of society to play their part in the enrolment drive to ensure no child was left behind.

The event also featured patriotic songs, tableaus, and cultural performances by students.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2025