LAHORE: All government schools of the province are awaiting two instalments of the non-salary budget (NSB) funds to run their routine expenses. The Punjab government has directed all district education authorities (DEAs) and chief executive officers (CEOs) to ensure transfer of the funds till May 24.

The NSB is designed to allow schools to independently make small-scale purchases, improve infrastructure and hire part-time staff. Its distribution is based on an established formula for all primary, elementary, high and higher secondary schools in all districts of the province. Under the formula, Rs3.5 billion were to be distributed among schools in each quarter. The Punjab government allocated Rs14 billion to the NSB for fiscal year 2017-18. It had released two instalments of the fund in March and April before the end of its tenure, but the schools had yet to receive the funds.

The school education department expressed concern over non-payment of funds to schools with the DEAs and their CEOs in all districts. The department issued a letter to the authorities and their chiefs, a copy of which is available with Dawn, stating, “It has been observed with great concern by the authority that the districts have not yet transferred NSB to the schools, which causes a great lapse towards development of schools.”

The department has directed the CEOs to immediately transfer the NSB to schools. The letter states: “You are directed to transfer NSB of third and fourth quarters released on March 29 and April 17. You are further directed to transfer NSB to the schools concerned immediately to avoid any untoward situation.”

The letter also warns the CEOs that they would be responsible if the funds were not transferred till May 24. “All CEOs and DEAs are requested to ensure transfer of the amount till May 24 and also provide a certificate duly signed by them that NSB has been completely transferred to the schools concerned. In case of any deficiency, CEOs and DEAs will be personally held responsible for the delay,” it further adds.

When contacted, School Education Secretary Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik said the department would ensure that the NSB reached all schools by May 24.

The Punjab Management and Implementation Unit of the Punjab Education Sector Reform Programme (PMIU-PESRP) had earlier instructed the CEOs that the funds, which had been transferred to Special Drawing Accounts, had to be jointly operated by the CEOs and district education officers (secondary) in all 36 districts of the province.

The PMIU-PESRP had directed the CEOs to immediately distribute the funds as per allocations and submit their confirmations. It further directed officials to ensure effective and efficient monitoring and utilisation of the funds. The PMIU-PESRP also issued guidelines for further allocation and transfer of funds by districts to individual schools and also for the institutes to use the allocation.

“The DEAs are being provided with school-specific and need-based NSB funds over and above their Punjab Finance Commission share as a conditional grant, which cannot be used for any other purpose,” the PMIU-PESRP directed the CEOs.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2018