ISLAMABAD, June 16: The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has been provided a record development budget of Rs593 million under the financial year 2005-06. The amount, termed by the FDE a record development budget, will be spent on its new as well as ongoing development projects. Similarly, the recurring budget of the directorate has also been increased — Rs600 million — due to creation of a large number of teaching and non-teaching vacancies.

The major projects for which allocations have been made include transformation of 120 federal government schools on the pattern of Islamabad model colleges, opening and upgradation of F.G. secondary schools, infrastructural development at three degree colleges and construction of new buildings in I-8, I-14 and Bhara Kahu schools.

Educational facilities are also being updated in Islamabad College for Boys, G-6/3, Islamabad College for Girls, F-6/2 and Islamabad Model College for Girls, F-6/2.

Two newly-established Islamabad model colleges in sectors I- 8/3 and I-10/2 are being provided new building blocks for starting college classes from the next academic session.

Among the ongoing projects, F.G. College for Women in Model Town Humak will become functional in July this year.

In IT education, the FDE, through three development projects, has been able to provide 100 per cent computer education to all secondary schools and F.G. Islamabad model institutions.

Under its futuristic vision, the FDE has acquired 15 plots in various localities of the capital.

In the newly-developed colony of Pak PWD, the FDE has established a junior model school, whereas Islamabad model schools would be set up in Korang Town and Islamabad housing society next year.

Similarly, primary school buildings in Margalla Town, Bhara Kahu and Tarnol sector are in completion stage.

A few days ago a new junior model school has started its classes at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) campus. The school’s building was inaugurated by the AIOU vice-chancellor, Dr Syed Altaf Hussain.

A separate budgetary provision has been made for free textbooks from class I to VIII.

The teachers’ training wing, established at FDE, has also been provided regular budget for running its massive training programmes and 20 resource centres at a cost of Rs134 million.