Danish Schools are set to expand across Pakistan, as the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approves six major projects worth over Rs19.25 billion to enhance education in underserved regions.
The meeting of the CDWP chaired by Federal Planning Minister Prof. Ahsan Iqbal considered proposals of Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.
The federal and provincial governments will establish Danish Schools in Qila Saifullah, Kan Mehtarzai, Sibi, Dera Bugti (Bikar), Musa Khel, Zhob, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir under a 50:50 cost-sharing scheme.
With the vision of providing quality education by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the project will supplement accessibility to remote and marginalized areas.
Prof. Iqbal insisted that there are more than 25 million Pakistani children who are out of school presently and closing this education gap is crucial in national development.
Initially, developed in Punjab is the Danish School model through which children of low-income families receive high-quality boarding school education free of charge.
The network now wants to expand on a national level and not only introduce academic excellence but digital literacy, innovation, entrepreneurship and cultural values.
Prof. Iqbal commended the Balochistan government who provided the land and contributed towards cost of the project, saying that it was a good model of intergovernmental cooperation.
They would also have the teacher boarding facilities and he indicated that the schools would have a percentage of day scholars to ensure that the school gives the highest standards of education.
The minister termed the initiative as a foundation to national unity and national economic development by stating that Danish Schools would liberate marginalized groups and an economically sustainable and modern education system promoting equality, opportunity and social justice.
