No budget increase for education ministry, HEC

Kashif Abbasi Published June 1, 2015

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has not felt the need to increase the development budgets of the Ministry of Federal Education and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in the forthcoming fiscal year.

According to the budget documents for 2015-16, an amount of Rs3.45 billion has been set aside for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training. In the outgoing budget (2014-15), the ministry had been allocated almost the same amount.

Similarly, there is no increase in the development budget of the HEC which has been promised Rs20,500 million for its 47 ongoing and scores of new development schemes. Last year, the federal government had allocated Rs19,609.7 million for the HEC.

According to the budget documents, Rs3,450 million have been allocated for the federal education ministry for its nine ongoing and three new schemes against the previous year’s budget of Rs3,451.3 million.

This amount includes Rs1 billion for the unapproved project, “Education sector reforms-ICT” under which the federal education ministry would introduce reforms in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT)’s education sector though the ministry has nothing to do with the education sector of the capital.

The education ministry will be spending Rs1bn on introducing reforms in education sector of capital

“We are surprised why the government has allocated Rs1 billion for the education ministry to introduce reforms in the ICT. The education ministry has nothing to do with the education of Islamabad,” said a senior officer of Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD).

He said CADD, through its subordinate organisation - the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) - was looking after the affairs of 422 educational institutions in the federal capital.

“If the government was serious in brining reforms to the education sector in Islamabad, the project should have been given under CADD,” the officer said.

However, officials in the federal education ministry told Dawn that as per the recommendations of a committee headed by Minister for Planning and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal the educational institutions in Islamabad would be brought under the federal education ministry.

“Sooner or later, the education ministry will take over the administrative control of the FDE-run educational institutions and that’s why the government has allocated Rs1 billion for the education reforms,” said a senior official in the ministry.

It may be noted that a few months ago the committee had recommended to the prime minister to place the educational institutions under the administrative control of the education ministry. However, the prime minister is yet to take any decision.

Besides the Rs2,413 million for nine ongoing schemes, the education ministry will also initiate three new projects worth Rs3,450 million. An amount of Rs7 million has been allocated for the National Curriculum Council and Rs30 million for the national best teacher award scheme.

Like the education ministry, there will be no increase in the funds for the HEC this year.

Speaking to Dawn, a senior official of the HEC said besides the funds allocated for development projects in the fiscal year 2014-15, the government recently approved a special budget of almost Rs7 billion for the development projects of the HEC.

“For the next fiscal year, we have demanded around Rs30 billion and even if Rs20 billion are released, it will be satisfactory,” the official said.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2015

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Pakistan

Kashif Ali Abbasi is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn with 17 years of experience in journalism. He covers sports, the education sector, and civic issues. He can be found on X at @AbbasiKashif833.

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Save pakistan

Jun 01, 2015 08:51am

In Pakistan, no qualification is required to be part of the parliament. Therefore, the parliamentarians don't know the importance of educations. Most of them send their own kids abroad to get education so they are least worried about the budget of HEC.

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yawar

Jun 01, 2015 09:48am

suggestion: HEC should propose a budget of separate wing of industrial universities liaison for research projects. This liaison should be responsible for cooperation between universities (masters and PhD sections) and industries for solving real problems faced in industries and also the research for future products. benefits: research methodology acquaintance in curriculum acquaintance to researchers for practical problems in industry knowledge to students for future technology and research more entrepreneurs economic growth of country + increase in GDP technology growth in country

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amir

Jun 01, 2015 09:58am

obviously......

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amin Sheedi

Jun 01, 2015 10:59am

In order to increase the budget for education government give certain area of education to investors , investors will take care of old building , teacher , books and transportation govemnts only

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Jun 01, 2015 12:13pm

Budget allocation represents the mind set of the government that education is a low priority - UNFORTUNATELY. The top decision makers of our country just do not get it that Education must be the top priority in the budget without which the country does not have any future.

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suman

Jun 01, 2015 12:36pm

Education reform is the major tool to fight with extremism and militancy. Cannot expect much from politician and military generals but hope common people will demand for better education than weapons and fight with neighbors.

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Sonic

Jun 01, 2015 01:15pm

This is unfortunate. The increase in the budget allocation of "Education" and "Health" is mandatory as this is considered a long term investment. But alas, it seems that the government does not view it as such. Unfortunate.

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One Indian

Jun 01, 2015 01:29pm

What is happening to billion dollars aid from US and others ?? If not for education and healthcare, where is that going ?

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Factual

Jun 01, 2015 04:13pm

Starving education of its due funds will come back to haunt us. It already is. Sometimes I wonder if there is intent behind this by our polity.

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Jay Patel

Jun 01, 2015 04:37pm

The irony of the fact is that, Pakistan is spending only 1% of its GDP on education while spending 3.5% of GDP on defense.

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M Zafar I Zahid

Jun 01, 2015 05:05pm

Why should not we thank MUSHARRAF?

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Kabeer

Jun 01, 2015 05:54pm

According to successive governments we do not need to educate our masses

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Kazim Reza

Jun 01, 2015 05:59pm

It is quite opposite with Bangladesh.Education has been getting highest allocation despite it is running by political, non representative and again political governments since 1991.

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Factual

Jun 01, 2015 06:48pm

@Jay Patel Pakistan could spend less on defence if one of our neighbour was not hegemonic. Spending on education could still be increased with financial discipline, cutting on non productive funds and curbing show off projects by politicians. Even broadening tax net can increase education budget significantly.

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PHILOSOPHER (from Japan)

Jun 01, 2015 07:27pm

We are less concerned about education...

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Musharaf bokhari

Jun 01, 2015 10:25pm

it is good decision by govt, this herd of masses known as Pakistani people not nation does not deserve to have education as education has never found its way in the priority list of it. every saner person should support this decision of government.

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