KARACHI, March 4: Physical targets set for Education Sector Reforms (ESR) programme in Sindh are unlikely to be achieved in time due to slow pace of funds utilization.

A federal government report says that the Sindh government could have utilized a slightly over 50 per cent of the total Rs846.319 million fund released by the Centre during the period 2001-2003. The unspent balance was calculated at Rs397.842 million.

The utilization of ESR programme fund by Sindh, as well as other provinces and agencies, would be discussed with other items on the agenda, at the 12th meeting of the National Steering Committee of ESR, involving provincial ministers, secretaries of education departments, and senior officials of the federal ministry of education. The meeting is scheduled to be held in Gawadar on March 5.

Official source mentioned that if the current pace of fund utilization persisted, the federal finance ministry might not be able to finance the ESR programmes in Sindh.

The government was unable to distribute Rs235.275 million to districts during 2002-2003, while the amount was believed to lying with either the Finance or Education departments of Sindh.

Federal ministry of education, in consultation with provincial governments, had sponsored eight programmes supposed to be implemented by the federal, provincial or district governments or agencies authorities in the federal territories from 2001 onward. A total amount of Rs4,649 million had been released to different governments or agencies during the period 2001-2003.

The pace of funds utilization in other provinces also appeared to be not up to the mark in the same period. The Punjab government was provided with Rs2,031.799 million out of which it could have utilized Rs1,521.972 million (79 per cent). The NWFP government utilized around 60 per cent (Rs410.873 million) while Balochistan has spent 84 per cent (Rs436.248 million) during the period.

Similarly, the government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and FANA authorities could spend 69 and 77 per cent of their funds respectively. As per a recent summary, prepared for the perusal of ministers and other high-ups dealing in educational affairs of the provincial governments, Sindh had received Rs846.319 million for 2001-2003 and utilized Rs431.342 million (53 per cent).

Another amount of Rs364.914 million has been allocated to it for 2003-2004 out of which Rs57.618 million has already been released.

In regard to operationalization of infrastructure developed under the ESR programme, the official report said that establishment of Teacher Resource Centres (TRCs), development of Science laboratories and introduction of Technical Stream were the major programmes which were being executed by the provinces since 2001.

Sindh developed 69 TRCs while work on another 246 centres is under way. The number of revamped science education programmes or constructed science laboratories remained at 86. The province also introduced 52 technical streams.

However, it was noted in the report that physical reporting by provinces, including Sindh, was silent over whether the science laboratories, technical workshops or TRCs were functional or non-functional.