One of our more recently launched schools, PKS-6 enrollment went up to 470 children within four years of its inauguration in 2016, of which 55% are girls. This is a phenomenal achievement as the majority of this community is from the highly conservative tribal areas of Pakistan, where girls’ education is strictly prohibited. Girls are not allowed out of their homes after age 11, so it took a great deal of persuasion by the PKS team to convince parents to send their girls to school, for the very first time in their families’ histories.

PKS-6 addresses the unmet educational needs of children living in this rapidly expanding, low-income, migratory community. Books, stationery, and uniforms are all provided free of cost, along with many exciting opportunities such as exposure visits to museums, parks, zoos, and places of historic significance, which are the first-ever such experiences our students are exposed to.

Classes range from Playgroup to Grade 7, using a mix of Montessori and National Curriculum materials. PKS-6 continues to face and overcome many challenges resulting from cultural norms that restrict educational opportunities for girls.

PKS-6 serves a community of more than 2,500 families originating from the tribal areas (FATA) and Kashmir. Both these groups belong to the large number of IDPs (internally displaced persons) who fled their respective regions after the war (in Waziristan) and earthquake (in Kashmir), and were unable to return due to loss of livelihoods. Languages spoken include Pashto and Kashmiri.