Maryam Nawaz celebrates new start for out-of-school children

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said that her government is opening the doors of education for thousands of out-of-school children through a series of new initiatives aimed at bridging literacy gaps across the province.

In a post on X, the chief minister said this summer we opened the doors of learning to thousands of out-of-school children across Punjab through our Foundational Literacy & Numeracy Camps.

This summer we opened the doors of learning to thousands of out-of-school children across Punjab through our Foundational Literacy & Numeracy Camps. In 12 districts 6060 camps came alive with stories, colors, numbers and words. Children aged 5 to 9 who were never enrolled or had… pic.twitter.com/G3w96gsw3s

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) August 7, 2025

She added that 6,060 camps were set up across 12 districts where children aged five to nine — who were either never enrolled in school or had dropped out — were welcomed with “warmth, free education and stationery.”

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“We are not just teaching them to read & count, we are helping them dream again. This is how we begin to change the future,” Maryam Nawaz said.

Private school to provide free education

In a related step, the Punjab School Education Department has decided to re-enforce the Private School Ordinance 2014 to ensure free education for underprivileged, deserving, and special children in private schools.

According to department sources, all private schools across Punjab will now be required to provide free education to 10 per cent of enrolled students under this revived ordinance.

Education officers have been directed to compile lists of children who will be educated free of charge.

پنجاب بھر کے پرائیویٹ اسکولز کو اب 10 فیصد غریب بچوں کو مفت تعلیم دینا لازم ہوگا
محکمہ ایجوکیشن پنجاب نے پرائیویٹ اسکول آرڈی نینس 2014 دوبارہ فعال کرنے کا فیصلہ کیا ہے
وزیرتعلیم رانا سکندر حیات نے کہا ہے کہ پرائیویٹ اسکولز کو آرڈی نینس پر عمل کرنے کا پاپند بنایا جائے گا

31 اگست…

— DTE PUNJAB DSD (@DsdDte) August 6, 2025

A province-wide survey to determine admission details is expected to be completed by 31 August, after the summer break.

Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat said private schools would be bound to implement the law.

He also announced that Punjab’s first autism-focused school for special children is nearing completion.

Criticism over free milk for school children

It may be noted here that Maryam Nawaz had faced harsh criticism when she launched the School Nutrition Programme last September and announced free milk for school-going children.

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Even former Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman Shabbar Zaidi had questioned the move, saying, “Maryam Nawaz should be ashamed. There are 2.5 crore children out of school. Who will give them milk?”

CM’s free milk program: Videos coming in from schools in South Punjab show how direly it was needed. pic.twitter.com/1gO17w1fY7

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) September 7, 2024

Maryam Nawaz had said during the launch, “There are thousands of schools in Punjab with millions of students. Resources are limited, but a better time is coming. I will do everything I can to meet children’s nutritional needs.”