The Education Department in Mohmand has revived 15 previously non-functional girls' schools in remote border areas and enrolled 4,181 out-of-school girls during the first month of a district-wide campaign aimed at improving female literacy and educational access.
Reopened Schools in Border Tehsils
District Education Officer (Female) Laila Ali said the reopened schools, located in the border tehsils of Baizai and Safi along the Pakistan-Afghan border, are now serving more than 385 girls who previously had limited access to formal education.
She said the district currently has 186 girls' primary schools, 38 middle schools, 15 high schools and one higher secondary school, with a combined enrolment of 24,997 students. Despite recent progress, however, 54,181 girls remain out of school.
Enrolment Campaign Targets
To address the challenge, the department has launched an enrolment campaign targeting 10,380 girls during the 2026–27 academic year. The drive, which will continue until December 31, has already achieved around 40 per cent of its target within the first month.
Officials said efforts to improve learning conditions have also yielded results. Textbooks have been supplied to all government schools, while furniture has been provided to most institutions across the district.
Teacher Recruitment and Supplies
To address staff shortages, around 440 teachers have been recruited through Parent-Teacher Councils (PTCs), UNICEF and AIP-supported initiatives, including 339 appointments made under PTC funding. Six teachers have also been recruited through ETEA, while another 19 appointments are expected in the next phase.
The department has distributed 3,764 furniture items to 33 schools and plans to extend the facility to 47 more institutions. In addition, 16,202 school bags containing geometry sets and other learning materials have been provided to primary-level students.
Infrastructure Gaps Persist
Despite these improvements, significant infrastructure gaps persist. Official figures show that 22 schools require latrines, 10 need boundary walls, 24 lack drinking water facilities and 106 remain without electricity. Proposals seeking funds for these facilities have been submitted to the relevant authorities.
Ms Ali stressed the need for sustained financial support for the 15 revived schools, saying continued investment was essential to maintain operations and improve literacy outcomes in remote border communities. She also called for the timely provision of furniture, textbooks and learning materials, emphasising that strengthening girls' education remains critical to the district's long-term social and economic development.
While the department has made notable progress in recent months, the challenge remains substantial, with more than 54,000 girls in Mohmand still outside the formal education system.
