Abbottabad: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Arshad Ayub Khan on Monday said teamwork was essential for bringing meaningful reforms in the education sector, adding that teachers must be given their due respect and recognition to achieve lasting change.
He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the province’s first-ever Summer Learning and Grooming Festival 2026, where he also announced that nearly 2,000 students from across the province were participating in the initiative under the patronage of the Chief Minister.
The minister formally inaugurated the festival by cutting a cake with students at Jalal Baba Auditorium in Abbottabad. The ceremony was attended by Hazara Division Commissioner Fayyaz Ali Shah, BISE Abbottabad Chairman Inayatullah Waseem, Additional Secretary Education Hayat Shah, Education Advisor (ESRU) Mian Saaduddin, senior education officials, teachers and students from across the province.
Arshad Ayub Khan said the festival would provide students with an opportunity to learn about the cultures and traditions of different regions, helping them develop confidence and leadership qualities.
He added that the provincial government was improving the posting and transfer system, reviewing the performance of all education sectors, considering a separate directorate for primary schools and introducing reforms to the examination system to improve educational standards.
The colourful opening ceremony featured speeches, tableaux, band performances and a variety of educational and cultural presentations by students.
Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner Hazara Division Fayyaz Ali Shah announced plans to establish one model school in every tehsil, with each district officer adopting a school to help improve facilities, teacher training and educational standards. He said he would personally adopt one boys’ and one girls’ school.
Chairman BISE Abbottabad Inayatullah Waseem said providing quality educational opportunities for children was a responsibility rather than a favour, stressing that parents and teachers must work together to build a stronger and more prosperous society.