The U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University inducted 100 girls into the successful English Access Microscholarship Program. The two-year program will give these students, aged 13-16 and studying at government schools and colleges in Peshawar, improved English language skills for greater professional and educational opportunities.
Consul General William Martin welcomed the new cohort to the Access family. “We believe education, especially developing English language skills, benefits not only the students but Pakistan as a whole. In today’s global village English is vital to success both in business and academia.”
Chief Guest, Minister for Higher Education and Information Mushtaq Ghani lauded the program, saying it should be expanded to other parts of the province as well. “Education is the most powerful tool that can help Pakistan achieve its goals,” he said.
Since the Access Program began in Pakistan in 2005, more than 11,000 Pakistani students from underserved backgrounds have benefitted from the program. Over 1,200 students from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have participated in the program, which began in this region in 2008. The students learn English by participating in after-school classes and intensive summer learning activities that also emphasize leadership and community service. Worldwide, over 115,000 students in more than 80 countries have participated in the Access Program.
