KP’s ILMpact Programme Targets Out-of-School Children

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On July 31, 2025, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government launched the ILMpact Programme, a province-wide initiative aimed at enrolling 80,000 out-of-school children (OOSC) across eight underserved districts. The programme is implemented in partnership with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the British Council, with a focus on inclusive and equitable access to education, in line with Pakistan’s constitutional guarantees and global commitments.

The programme was officially inaugurated by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur at a ceremony at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar. Target districts include Battagram, Mansehra, Swabi, Buner, Shangla, Khyber, Mohmand, and Dera Ismail Khan, where the educational infrastructure faces persistent challenges.

According to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), the ILMpact initiative prioritizes children who are most at risk of exclusion, including girls, children with disabilities, and religious minorities. The strategy includes teacher training, early childhood education, and inclusive classroom practices designed to address learning disparities and improve retention.

British Council Country Director James Hampson emphasized that ILMpact “lays the foundation for every child to succeed, regardless of their background,” echoing the programme’s commitment to foundational learning and gender equity. The initiative includes the distribution of free books, stationery, and school bags, along with capacity-building for Parent-Teacher Committees (PTCs) to improve school governance and accountability.

Chief Minister Gandapur highlighted education as a cornerstone of national development, stating that the programme supports KP’s broader reforms, which include a 21% allocation of the provincial budget to elementary and secondary education. According to TNN English, the province enrolled 1.3 million children in schools last year, with a new target of an additional 1 million enrollments in 2025–2026.

The ILMpact Programme addresses long-standing barriers to education, such as poverty, distance from schools, and lack of inclusive infrastructure, particularly in rural and tribal areas. It is expected to run through 2027 and is structured around five core workstreams: Learning Access, Safe Learning Environments, Personal Agency, Pathways for Life, and Data-Driven Governance, as outlined by the programme’s implementation partner, Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA).

By focusing on marginalized groups and deploying data-informed solutions, ILMpact contributes directly to Pakistan’s constitutional obligation under Article 25-A, which guarantees the right to free and compulsory education for all children aged 5 to 16.