SWABI, July 12: The United Nations Children Fund (Unicef) will spend $1.5 million on a five-year education programme in four districts of the NWFP. Girls education will receive top priority in the programme.

The Unicef representative for Pakistan, Dr Omar Abdi, and the Unicef chief representative in the NWFP, Osama Makkawi Khogali, while speaking to this reporter during a visit to the district on Monday, said: "Only the transportation in these four districts would cost Rs2.2 million because we are providing pick and drop facilities to the teachers.".

Dr Abdi said that the Unicef has selected Swabi, Abbottabad, Upper Dir and Mardan for the five-year education plan and poverty, backwardness and low literacy rate would be the selection criteria.

Under the programme, he said, Unicef would impart quality education to 80 per cent girls by the year 2008 in Swabi district. He said Unicef would approach other donor agencies to invest in the education sector in the district.

He said it was very important that the district administration was serious in imparting education. "We would support the district education plan and would play a key role in the education development of the district," said Mr Abdi.

He said the provincial government would also be asked to extend its help. Earlier during a briefing about Unicef activities in the district, it was revealed that Unicef would spend Rs10.372 million on girls' education during the current year.

The main objectives were to improve access to primary education; improve the quality of education; and provision of water and sanitation facilities to girl schools. In the Swabi district the Unicef has selected 12 union councils, which are: Gandaf, Maini, Zarobai, Baja, Salim Khan, Swabi-Maneri, Maneri Bala, Maneri Payan, Parmuli, Sard Cheena, Jalbai and Beka. In all these union councils, there are 95 girl primary schools and the total targeted population is 233,566.

Unicef would finance short-term appointment of 40 female teachers to bridge the gap to support students' ratio and preference would be given to open closed/abandoned schools.

In the district, 10 feeding schools would be established to address the issues of overcrowded schools and to boost enrolment in the areas where there are no girl schools or are out of their reach.

Besides, training would be given to the existing female teachers, specially in the early childhood and child friendly schools concept. Unicef would set up 40 toilets, 40 hand-pumps and 40 water sanitation schemes to be improved/rehabilitated.

In his welcome address, District Naib Nazim Liaquat Ahmad Khan said Unicef was doing a wonderful job by educating poor girls of the district but there was a need of more attention and funds. "The district government is trying its best to bridge the gap and remove disparity but since we are short of resources we can't accomplish our task," said Mr Khan.