The Benazir Taleemi Wazifa (BTW) program by the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) aims to provide education stipends to children from underprivileged families across Pakistan. By covering school tuition fees and other basic necessities, the BTW program enables children to complete their primary, secondary and higher secondary education.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover the key details regarding BTW eligibility, enrollment process and the documents required to register children for the stipends.
Who is Eligible for the Program?
Check If You Are Eligible For BISP Benazir Taleemi Wazifa Here: benazir-taleemi-wazaif.pk
The BTW education stipends are available only to the children of existing low-income families receiving monthly cash assistance under BISP’s Kafalat program.
The key Eligibility criteria are:
- Child’s mother must be an active BISP Kafalat beneficiary
- Child’s age must be between 4-22 years depending on education level
Children of existing BISP beneficiaries qualify for the program if they meet the age criteria:
– Primary education – Children aged 4-12 years
– Secondary education – Children aged 8-18 years
– Higher secondary – Children aged 13-22 years
Step-by-Step Guide to Register for BTW Stipends
Registering children for the BTW stipends involves visiting designated centers and providing the necessary documentation.
The key steps are outlined below:
1. Visit Nearby BTW Registration Camp
- BTW registration camps are periodically set up across various districts
- Visit a camp close to your locality with all required documentation
- Camp locations are advertised via local BISP offices, print media etc.
2. Provide Necessary Documentation
To enroll children for BTW stipends, beneficiaries must provide:
- CNIC copy of mother (BISP Kafalat beneficiary)
- Child’s B-form issued by NADRA
- School admission slip with class details, verified by teacher with stamp
B-form verification via NADRA database is mandatory. The child’s identity must match their database for stipend approval.
3. Wait for Notification and Tracking ID
If enrollment is successful, the BTW tracking ID for the child will be provided. This can be used to track application status online.
An SMS notification is also sent once stipend is approved and ready for disbursal.
How are BTW Stipends Provided?
Once enrolled, quarterly payments covering school or college fees and other expenses are directly transferred by BISP into the existing bank account of the beneficiary mother under the standard Kafalat program.
Most public and private schools also have dedicated BTW counters for education expense reimbursements of enrolled students.
Can BTW Registration be Done Online?
Yes, online self-enrollment is available via the BTW Mobile App by BISP. This allows new registrations as well as payments tracking.
The Android app can be downloaded via this link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pk.gov.bisp.enrollment
To self-enroll, beneficiaries can provide the required details and documentation online. Physical verification may still be required in some cases before approval.
Key Advantages of the BTW Stipend Program
Pakistan’s BTW initiative has received praise for enabling underprivileged children to access education. Some of its key advantages are:
- Increased enrollments – Primary and secondary school enrollments have increased from 42% to 52% since BTW introduction.
- Gender equality – Girls make up 60% of total BTW student beneficiaries. Stipends offset cultural barriers to female education.
- Poverty alleviation – Program directly enables future earnings potential and mitigates risk of inter-generational poverty cycles.
- Reduced child labor – Financial assistance makes child labor for school expenses unnecessary.
As evident, the well-planned enrollment process and eligibility criteria enable wide access to the BTW welfare program – now benefitting over 5 million Pakistani children yearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common queries regarding BTW enrollment:
1. Do stipends cover entire education costs of the child?
Ans. Stipends generally cover 60-70% of tuition fees and admission/examination charges. Additional costs may need to be managed by parents.
2. Can stipend eligibility be revoked?
Ans. Yes, eligibility can be revoked if:
- Child has low attendance and performance marks.
- Child has changed school without notification/approval.
- Family becomes ineligible for main BISP cash assistance.
3. Are all schools eligible for stipend reimbursements?
Ans. Most public and private schools are eligible, as long government curriculum standards are fulfilled. Specific eligibility can be checked via regional BISP centers.
We hope this detailed guide provides clarity on enrolling for the BTW education stipends program by BISP. Meeting the needs of underprivileged students across Pakistan and giving them access to quality education continues to be the mission of this far-reaching welfare initiative.
Nauman is an education policy analyst associated with BISP as senior program consultant for the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif conditional cash transfer initiative. He heads portfolio management for the program including planning, budgeting and performance monitoring. Nauman has over 10 years experience in the social impact space. He completed his MPhil in Economics from Government College University Lahore, focusing his research on financial inclusion for literacy and skills development.