Education — Mardan Division
Two districts — Mardan and Swabi — formal public schools, colleges, universities, literacy rates, and out-of-school children (ages 5–16).
Mardan Division (2 districts)
Formal public schools
Total3,208Boys + girls combined across Mardan and Swabi districts.
Colleges & universities
Degree colleges: Mardan 9 / 8 (boys/girls); Swabi 7 / 8.
Medical colleges: Bacha Khan Medical College (Mardan); Gajju Khan Medical College (Swabi).
Universities
- UET Peshawar, Mardan Campus (engineering)
- University of Swabi
- Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute (private)
Private schools (primary–higher secondary): Mardan 357 · Swabi 231
Formal Public Schools (Boys + Girls Combined)
| Level | Mardan | Swabi | Division total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | 1,417 | 1,005 | 2,422 |
| Middle | 174 | 128 | 302 |
| High | 167 | 130 | 297 |
| Higher Secondary | 67 | 35 | 102 |
| Mosque schools | 41 | 44 | 85 |
| Total | 1,866 | 1,342 | 3,208 |
Schools by Level (Division)
Colleges & Universities
| Institution | Mardan | Swabi |
|---|---|---|
| Degree colleges (Boys/Girls) | 9 / 8 | 7 / 8 |
| Post-graduate colleges | 1 | 1 |
| Polytechnic institutes | 2 | 1 |
| Commerce colleges/institutes | 3 | 1 |
| Vocational centres | 5 | — |
| Medical colleges | Bacha Khan Medical College | Gajju Khan Medical College |
| Universities | UET Peshawar, Mardan Campus (engineering) | University of Swabi; Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute (private) |
| Private schools (primary–higher secondary) | 357 | 231 |
Literacy Rate
| District | Overall | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mardan | 52% | 71% | 34% |
| Swabi | 49% | 65% | 34% |
Overall Literacy by District
Out-of-School Children (5–16 years)
| District | Total |
|---|---|
| Mardan | 230,969 |
| Swabi | 145,589 |
| Division total | 376,558 |
Gender Parity Gap in Education
Girls comprise 58% of out-of-school children in Mardan Division, with 133,215 girls out of a total 230,969 out-of-school children.
The pattern mirrors Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s wider trend, where the gender gap in school participation increases significantly after the primary level.
According to the 2021 BISP NSER, the out-of-school rate was 28% in Mardan and 29% in Swabi, both below the KP average of 39%.
OOSC by District
Provincial Education Budget Context
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Elementary & secondary education budget (overall) | Rs 363 billion |
| Elementary & secondary education within ADP | Rs 13.6 billion |
| “Education emergency” initiative (out-of-school enrolment) | Rs 5 billion |
| Higher education allocation | Rs 4.9 billion |
| Public-sector universities development | Rs 10 billion (up from Rs 3 billion) |