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LAHORE, June 14: The Punjab government has allocated Rs26.18 billion for education sector, including Rs12.48 billion, in the annual development programme for 2006-07.
The education sector’s development budget is some 36 per cent higher than the current year’s Rs9.2 billion. The total budget allocation for the education sector makes 9.78 per cent of the total outlay of Rs274 billion for the next financial year.
According to the next financial year development budget breakdown, the government has allocated a lumpsum amount of Rs5 billion for the Education Sector Reforms (ESR) Programme; Rs3.305 billion for school education; Rs2.9 billion for higher education, Rs600 million for special education and Rs275 million for literacy education.
The next financial year’s allocations for school education, higher education, special education and literacy are 65.3 per cent, 141.7 per cent, 20 per cent and 37.5 per cent higher than the current year’s allocations, respectively.
In the school and higher education sectors, the government plans to establish and upgrade some 200 schools, impart training to 121,857 teachers and managers. It also plans to establish and upgrade 70 colleges and set up 3,251 libraries.
In the special education sector, the government plans to establish new centres of special education in 90 tehsils, provide modern teaching aids to schools for special education and enhance enrolment through incentives.
In the literacy sector, the government has decided to establish 350 vocational training and life skill centres —- 10 centres in each district and 340 community learning centres all over the province. The literacy and non-formal basic education department will also launch an integrated literacy programme for empowerment in selected districts.
The government believes these interventions coupled with a number of management reforms and inputs undertaken through the non-development budget would facilitate achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that have been targeted to be achieved by 2015. The MDGs include cent per cent participation rate at primary level by 2015 and participation enhancement at elementary and secondary levels. Imparting of quality education at all levels, promotion of science and computer education at secondary and tertiary levels. The government will also struggle to reduce gender and regional disparity in access to education.
SCHOOL EDUCATION: In the school education sector, the government has allocated Rs5 billion under the Chief Minister’s Education Sector Reforms Programme (ESRP) for the provision of missing facilities, Rs74.998 million under the Chief Minister’s Accelerated Programme for Social Development (CMAPSD).
During the next fiscal year, the government will execute 14 ongoing schemes, including the supply of 3,077 metric tons edible oil worth Rs941.919 million for the promotion of primary education for girls in rural areas. The edible oil is being supplied to girl students under the World Food Programme.
The government has decided to work on 31 new schemes, including three unapproved schemes for the next financial year. The unapproved schemes are internal merit scholarship, introduction of early childhood education and revamping of school councils in non-pilot districts. The new schemes include construction of six new schools and upgradation of 20 schools in the province.
HIGHER EDUCATION: In the higher education sector, the government has allocated Rs656.71 million for 14 ongoing schemes and Rs157.176 million for 120 new schemes. The new schemes include upgradation of 14 inter-colleges as degree colleges as well as launching of BSc classes at Government Degree College for Women, Sumundari, Faisalabad; and launching of MA classes at Government College Layyah; Postgraduate College, Joharabad, Khushab; and Government Girls College, Mandi Bahauddin.
