Form-B admission requirement waived off for capital schools

1 min read

ISLAMABAD: The government-run educational institutions in the capital have waived off the requirement of Form-B for admission in schools in a major relief for the undocumented children mostly hailing from underprivileged communities, a requirement which had been disproportionately affecting the enrolment rate.

At present, Pakistan has about 26 million children who are out of school despite tallclaims made by the successive government to increase the enrolment rate by incentivising admissions to state-run schools, for example through school meal programmes and free schoolbooks.

According to Education Secretary Mohyuddin Wani, all children in Islamabad regardless of their documentation status will be eligible for admission in the government-run schools in light of the new policy which removes the perquisite of Form-B for enrolment.

`It has come to our attention that the previous requirement of producing Form-B as a condition for admission in federal government schools inadvertently restricted the access to education for underprivileged children. This practice has disproportionately affected vul-nerable populations, including undocumented children,` he said, adding that the decision was aimed at an inclusive education environment.

`Our goal is to ensure that every child has access to quality education, regardless of their background or circumstances.

We believe every child deserves an opportunity to shape their destiny and we are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

This policy correction is a step towards creating a more equitable and just society, where every child can thrive and reach their full potential,` he added.

Evening classes Similarly, the Ministry of Education has decided to start evening shifts in 51 schoolsacross the city, starting with the next academic session.

This aims to address the challenges faced during the enrolment campaign, where many schools saw a significant increase in student numbers, with some primary classes exceeding 50 students per class and reaching a strength of almost 100.

`To ensure quality education and a conducive learning environment, we will upgrade infrastructure in the designated schools and arrange additional honorarium for teachers to support the evening shifts,` he said.

`The evening shifts will help alleviate the pressure on morning classes, providing a better student-to-teacher ratio, and an improved learning experience. We are com-mitted to providing quality education to all students, and this initiative is a significant step towards achieving our goals,` he said.

It may be noted that the schools managed by the Federal Directorate of Education had sought Rs3.5 billion from the federal government in the upcoming budget to complete the renovations of educational institutions under a Rs7.4 billion project.

The project titled `Provision of Basic Educational Facilities in Educational Institutions of ICT` was initiated in 2021 and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government had allocated Rs2 billion for this project in FY23-24 to ensure the smooth flow of work.

Acknowledgement: Published in Dawn News on 13th June 2024.

Previous Story

Rs3.792 Trillion PSDP with Major Increase in Education Budget

Implementation of Article 25A in Pakistan
Next Story

Education emergency: a social X-ray

Latest from Blog

Schools Violating Vacation Orders Penalised

SWABI: Complaints pouring in from different circles have forced the officials of the district administration to take action against schools who failed to comply with the provincial government’s order of summer holidays. The provincial education department has closed both public and private sector schools for summer holidays on June 15,…

Three Booked For Rape Of Ninth-grader

SAHIWAL: Police have registered a case against three suspects and arrested two of them for allegedly molesting and blackmailing a 15-year-old ninth-grade student through a mobile phone video in the official quarters of the irrigation department in Neeli Bar Canal Colony. Reports said ‘S’ of Sarwar Shaheed Road, Civil Lines,…

Three Pakistani Schools Among Top 10 Finalists For World’s Best School Prizes

ISLAMABAD: Three Pakistani schools have been named among the Top 10 finalists for the World’s Best School Prizes 2025. The prizes, launched by T4 Education in 2022 following the COVID-19 pandemic, aim to highlight innovative practices in schools that are transforming lives both inside and outside the classroom, according to…

Three Missing Hindu Girls Recovered From Karachi

Three underage Hindu girls who had mysteriously gone missing from Shahdadpur recently have been recovered from Karachi. Officials said on Thursday that Dr Lal Chand Ukrani, special assistant to the chief minister of Sindh on minority affairs, had taken serious notice of the incident and directed law enforcement agencies to…

STBB Committee Calls For Creativity And Tolerance In School Curricula

Hyderabad: The Sindh Textbook Board (STBB) reviewed committee has emphasised the inclusion of critical thinking, creativity and tolerance in school curricula. Officials said on 18-June-2025 that on the directives of Sindh Minister for Education Syed Sardar Ali Shah, the first meeting of the curriculum review committee formed by the Sindh…
Go toTop