The Benazir Taleemi Wazifa (BTW) programme administered by BISP provides quarterly cash stipends to children of underprivileged families meeting eligibility criteria. But the monetary assistance is not the only benefit – the program also delivers crucial educational and social impacts in shaping students’ futures.
This article explores some key intangible advantages the BTW programme accrues for enrolled students beyond the cash transfers. Understanding these positive externalities can help parents make informed decisions about enrolling their children.
See how the program benefits beyond financials
Holistic Growth Through Continued Education
The prime purpose of BTW stipends is to incentivize parents of disadvantaged backgrounds to send their children to school regularly instead of pushing them into child labour due to poverty. By mandating 70% attendance along with admission conditionalities for payments, the programme ensures:
1. Enhanced Learning
Attending school daily allows children to absorb lessons better through continuous instructional hours as compared to interrupted education.
2. Avoidance of Gap Years
Unbroken yearly schooling ensures students don’t miss critical conceptual building blocks that cause them to lag behind peers.
3. Reduced Dropouts
Conditional cash transfers motivate parents and children to prioritize education over other obligations, leading to lower student dropouts.
4. Improved Retention
Direct financial assistance makes it possible for families to afford ancillary schooling costs like books, uniforms etc. that aid in keeping children enrolled.
The programme architecture compels beneficiaries to make education a priority for long-term intellectual, emotional and social development of children rather than short-term financial considerations.
Access to Evolving Knowledge
Being in school provides exposure to updated facts, information and analytical skills required to succeed in the modern world, including:
1. Digital Literacy
Understanding of essential technologies like computers and internet aids in adaptive learning capacities.
2. Contextual Learning
Discussion of current events provides contemporary contextual knowledge beyond textbooks to grow into engaged citizens.
3. Practical Knowledge
Beyond theoretical concepts, emphasis on topics like ethics, environment, government functioning etc. helps tackle real world challenges.
The BTW stipend makes accelerated learning possible for underprivileged children to actively participate in an increasingly complex, globalized environment.
Enhanced Future Job Prospects
Despite the increased enrollment and attendance the BTW programme enables, the quality of affordable public education still requires improvement. But even basic education credentials obtained provide better occupational opportunities than being school dropouts, including:
1. Eligibility for Skilled Work
Higher secondary certificates make students eligible for vocational courses to be self-employed artisans, technicians etc.
2. Increased Employability
Completion of secondary education fulfils minimum criteria for most entry-level jobs in the formal economy.
3. Avenues for Further Education
Foundational schooling enables students to opt for higher education like bachelor’s degrees through loans, scholarships etc. with better long term prospects.
Thus, staying in school catalyzed by BTW stipends allows beneficiaries to enhance employability, escape generational poverty traps and bridle social mobility through gainful work.
Societal Progress Through Female Education
An important aspect of the BTW programme is the higher cash transfer amounts granted for girls at each education level along with additional graduation bonuses. This priority for girl child education is crucial considering that:
1. Enhanced Agency
Educated girls gain confidence and skills to exercise independence in life, career and marital choices.
2. Healthier Families
Literary mothers possess better awareness for childcare, hygiene, nutrition etc. leading to healthier families.
3. Poverty Alleviation
Enabled participation of women in the workforce positively impacts families, communities and economic growth.
4. Curtailed Inequality
Enhanced female education reduces gender gaps leading to equitable societies based on merit.
Thus, the programme through targeted design and delivery mechanism directly aids in women empowerment and societal welfare.
Summing Up
While easier said than done, the opportunities unlocked by availing the BTW programme stipend certainly provide the impetus for families to educate their children. The schools of today shape the leaders of tomorrow. Securing their future ultimately secures our nation’s future.
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.