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| November 18, 2005 | Friday | Shawwal 15, 1426 |
Ministry works out $4m rehabilitation plan
ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: The federal education ministry in collaboration with international agencies has worked out over $4 million plan for the rehabilitation of educational facilities in tremor-hit areas of Azad Kashmir and the NWFP, a well-placed source told Dawn.
The ministry has prepared the damage assessment report which will be presented at the international donors conference scheduled for November 19 in Islamabad, the source said.
The ministry has involved the respective governments of Azad Kashmir and the NWFP in preparation of the damage assessment report which covers every single expenditure, including provision of books and school bags to the affected children.
Under the plan, the source said, educational infrastructure would not only be restored to the level when the earthquake hit the area on October 8, but also upgraded with state-of-the-art labs and classroom equipment.
According to findings of the damage assessment report, 2,159 and 5,953 schools/colleges were totally damaged in the NWFP and Azad Kashmir, respectively. Whereas, the number of schools/colleges partially damaged in the NWFP were 3,183 and 568 in Azad Kashmir.
There was some variation in the data so far collected by various public and private sector organizations which would be settled before the international donors conference commenced, the source said. Credible data would help ensure commitments of international donors towards rehabilitation.
Earlier, the education minister had claimed that after the provision of funding, reconstruction and renovation of the damaged school and college buildings would take between six to 12 months.
The minister had also expressed the hope that it would take from six to 10 months to resettle students in their native areas.
At present, the source said, immediate priority of the education ministry was establishment of tent schools along with the entire requisite teaching material in the affected areas of the NWFP and Azad Kashmir.
The ministry has said that approximately 21,000 tents measuring 30x30 ft will be required for the establishment of approximately 3,915 primary, 820 middle and 525 high/higher secondary schools in the affected areas.
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