PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah said on Monday that school enrolment figures would henceforth be linked with the performance evaluation of district education officers and head teachers to ensure accountability and results.

He stated this while chairing a review meeting regarding the ongoing school enrolment campaign 2025, a statement issued here said.

A presentation was given on the issue of out-of-school children and the strategies being implemented to bring them into the education system. The meeting was informed that approximately 4.9 million children remain out of school across the province, while nine million were currently enrolled in educational institutions.

The special secretary education briefed the participants that district education officers (DEOs) were specifically targeting clusters with high concentrations of out-of-school children.

The forum was informed that a comprehensive door-todoor enrolment drive was underway, involving schoolteachers and local influencers.

Additionally, representatives of local bodies, youth volunteers, community elders, and religious leaders are being mobilised to support the campaign at the grassroots level.

The chief secretary underscored that robust community engagement and sustained advocacy were pivotal to the success of the enrolment initiative. He directed DEOs and district administrations to ensure timely updating and submission of accurate enrolment data to facilitate evidence-based planning and decision-making.

To incentivise enrolment and ease the burden on families, schoolbags and stationery items are being distributed free of cost to newly-enrolled students. Moreover, the government is set to launch the `Taleem Card` initiative in the near future, aimed at further supporting students and families in their pursuit of education.

The meeting also reviewed plans for the establishment of community schools for girls, creation of early childhood education (ECE) corners, and training of teachers in ECE methodologies.

It was emphasised that efforts to reduce early dropouts will be strengthened through the effective utilisation of parent-teacher councils.