September 28, 2015, Peshawar: The Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) flagship radio program Sabawoon (Dawn), on Monday, focused on the education budget for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The allocation and utilization of the education budget were the key points of discussion during this program.

The program was aired under the theme “Jarga Marraka” (Public Dialogue). Mr. Malik Masood, Program Manager at the Center for Governance and Public Accountability, participated in the program as a guest. A field report from Khyber Agency on the program’s central theme was also aired during the show. The story highlighted the views of the locals about the education system in KP/FATA, and the general lack of public awareness regarding the education budget allocations. Government initiatives for the improvement of education infrastructure, on-ground use of the allocated funds and lack of FATA parliamentarian’s role in the development of FATA were additional themes discussed. Mr. Qaisar Jamal (Minister National Assembly, Frontier Regions) said “Our education sector is in ruins because of the talibanization and on-going war against militancy. It is very hard to utilize the funds, because political agents have complete control over it and they are of the view that it is useless to utilize the funds in the current conditions.”

Seven listeners participated in the show via live calls. There was a near unanimous call for increasing the budget for the education sector, and better utilization of allocated funds. One caller, Abdullah from Kurram Agency, FATA, said, “FATA is the complete opposite of KP. FATA has remained the victim of terrorism and talibanization which has destroyed the educational infrastructure”. Another caller said “Education is the key to success. Parents and the government should also concentrate on it as well.” A third caller, from Khyber Agency, said, “The public has little awareness about the budget as majority of FATA residents are uneducated, therefore we don’t know how to ask for our rights.”

“This is extremely unfortunate for the people of FATA, that there is no proper utilization of funds in the sector, there is no check and balance system, and majority of the funds are utilized based on political will. Meanwhile, in the KP province, the budget is facing issues like political instability and hindrances for its proper utilization”.

– Mr. Malik Masood, Program Manager Center for Governance and Public Accountability