June 17, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 12, 1429

PESHAWAR, June 16: The NWFP government has allocated Rs5.5 billion for education sector in annual budget 2008-09 and announced to provide free education up to intermediate level.

“All the students up to intermediate level will be provided with free education and text books,” the provincial government announced.

Provision of monthly stipends of Rs200 for female students from grade VI to grade X in all 24 districts would be ensured to promote female education in the province, said the annual budget 2008-09 document presented by the provincial government here in NWFP Assembly on Monday afternoon.

The former Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal government only provided free of cost text-books to students up to secondary level. The former government had also provided monthly stipends to girl students in seven backwards districts but the present government extended the incentive to all the 24 districts.

The Awami National Party-led provincial government, declaring education sector its top priority, allocated an amount of Rs5.5 billion for the sector which would be utilised to fund 88 projects, out of which 57 were ongoing and 31 were new schemes.

The government said to provide benefit package to teachers in remote and difficult areas. According to budget 25,000 teachers would be imparted training on teaching skills and day-care centres would be established for female teachers in government colleges to facilitate them. The provincial government has also decided to set up cluster hostels for teachers in backward areas.

Additional shifts will be started in boys and girls colleges to promote education. The provision of transport facilities in girls colleges are also planned in the budget.

The basic facilities in schools particularly for girls will be improved substantially by completion of boundary walls in 121 schools, water supply schemes for 129 schools and group latrine for 139 schools, construction of 275 additional classrooms, reconstruction of buildings of 17 secondary schools, establishment of 99 primary schools, up-gradation of 60 primary and 47 middle schools in the current year.

The government has set a target of achieving 100 per cent enrolment ratio in schools by 2010-11 to attain The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The government would initiate work on establishment of 200 primary schools and up-gradation of 100 primary and 100 middle schools, according to the white-paper.

The development and improvement of existing public libraries, establishment of new university at Mardan and new Islamic University at Swat are also planned in the budget. Twenty new government colleges will be established in the province. Supply of water to various colleges would be ensured, the government said.

Establishment of science, IT and post-graduate blocks in various colleges, establishment of digital library and language laboratories are also planned in the budget.

Most of the new projects are focused on promotion of education at primary level, creating gender balance and fulfilling the infrastructural requirements of existing institutions including staff, equipment, furniture, teachers training and essential repairs. The government has also planned to set up homes on the pattern of SOS Villages for street children.

SOCIAL WELFARE: An amount of Rs.99.551 million has been allocated in annual budget 2008-09 for the social welfare and women development.

The government has earmarked funds for 31 projects of which 17 are ongoing schemes and 14 are new ones. According to budget 40 disabled children will be given special education, 1,800 elderly people and 1,200 post-graduate students will be provided monthly stipends of Rs1,000 and 2,000 respectively.