PEF to issue 125000 vouchers during EVS expansion phase 15

Lahore: Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) has launched the expansion phase 15 of public private partnership based Education Voucher Scheme (EVS) for the deserving students. This expansion phase is launched in 16 selected districts including Faisalabad, Jhang, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Khanewal, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Vehari, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh and Khushab.

According to the spokesman of Punjab Education Foundation, it is expected that a total of one lakh and 25 thousand deserving male female students will benefit from this expansion phase. These children will be issued vouchers by the foundation to study free of cost in PEF partners schools of choice. For this purpose, PEF has solicited applications from private sector schools and non-governmental organizations with at least three years experience. However, it is mandatory that the schools should be situated in selected Union Councils chosen for this expansion in the 16 districts.

EVS is a public private partnership based educational model in which PEF pays @ Rs. 550/- per student for primary section, Rs. 600/- for elementary and Rs. 700/- for secondary classes; while these partner schools cannot receive any fee from the vouchered students who study free of cost. Meanwhile, PEF also provides free textbooks to these students every year. With the view to keep an eye on their academic performance, Quality Assurance Test is conducted every year by the Foundation.

The spokesman further said that PEF is managing Education Voucher Scheme in all the 36 districts of the province where a total of three lakh and 21 thousand male and female deserving students are issued vouchers to study up to matric level in schools attached with this scheme.  After this expansion phase, the total number of EVS beneficiaries in the Punjab will rise to four lakh and 46 thousand, concluded the spokesman.