ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Questions have emerged over the eligibility of private school students for the Prime Minister’s Youth Chromebook Scheme, as the government’s official registration portal currently lists only students from public-sector educational institutions as eligible applicants.
The scheme aims to distribute hundreds of thousands of Chromebooks among students across Pakistan to support digital learning and education.
According to the eligibility details available on the Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC) registration portal, Grade 9 top-position holders from public schools in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan can apply on the basis of their annual examination results for 2026.
Similarly, Grade 10 position holders from public-sector schools affiliated with educational boards in Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan are also eligible.
However, the portal currently does not offer an application option for students enrolled in private schools.
This has raised questions because announcements made at the time of the scheme’s launch indicated that students from private schools operating under provincial Education Foundations, as well as those enrolled in registered religious seminaries (Madaris), would also receive devices.
The difference between the initial announcements and the eligibility criteria currently displayed on the registration portal has created uncertainty among students and parents.
Students have been advised to check the official eligibility requirements and contact the relevant education authority or IBCC before applying, rather than relying solely on general announcements made during the scheme’s launch.
