Vice Chancellor Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Prof Dr. Nasir Mahmood has said that university is providing free education facilities for the students of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Balochistan and the merged tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). In a statement issued on Monday, he said that the objective behind the initiative of free education facilities to the said areas was to contribute towards the efforts of the incumbent government to enroll the of out-of-school children. Prof Dr Nasir Mahmood said that the AIOU was setting an exemplary role by playing its role in the national initiative of enrolling out-of-school children through providing free education up to matriculation level for children. He said that the university’s autumn semester for 2024 was commencing from July 15. The VC AIOU directed the heads of the relevant regional offices to ensure that this message reaches every household in these three regions so that out-of-school children can benefit from this university facility and illuminate their lives through education.

Additionally, the university provides fee concessions for those students who were unable to continue their education due to financial constraints. For availing of this facility, individuals can contact the nearest regional office of the university. AIOU also offers free education to prisoners and transgender individuals so that they can be empowered to become productive and positive members of society. The university provides education to prisoners within jail premises. The aim of providing free education to prisoners is to transform the lives of criminals in such a way that they can start a new life as civilized, useful, and positive citizens of society after completing their sentences. More than 1,200 prisoners have already been connected to the educational network of the university.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan