December 6, 2005	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 3, 1426

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SWABI, Dec 5: The NWFP government has closed down 112 adult literacy centres in the district after the federal government stopped funds for the project, Dawn has learnt. Sources said that because of shortage of funds, the education department was no longer in a position to run these centres.

Those who were either teaching or acquiring education in these centres were told by the authorities on Saturday that now it would be difficult for the government to continue the course.

When asked about the reopening of these centres, the sources said it all depend on provision of funds by the federal government. The officials recognized that it negates the government claim that 100 per cent literacy rate would be achieved within the next 10 years.

The sources said the provincial financial department was providing fund to provincial director school and literacy and then this department had sanctioned funds according to the demand of each district.

The federal government has not shown interest in the provision of more funds and the funds already provided had been exhausted.

The sources said the centres which are running with the financial help of the NWFP government would continue to run and there was no immediate threat to them but only those run with federal government funds were no longer functional.

In the 112 closed centres, the sources said, 3,000 students were acquiring education and now they were told by the authorities to stay home. The sources said they were also told that they would be informed about the new programme later on.

However, officials in the education department said that once this continuity is disturbed then it becomes quite difficult to gain the same momentum.

The sources said that 112 teachers were working in these centres who also lost jobs with their closure.

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