KARACHI, Aug 28: In view of what appeared slackness on its part, the Sindh education department has been asked to surrender a good chunk of funds supposed to be spent on facilitation of madressahs to the federal government, said sources in the government.

It is likely that Sindh government will return an amount to the tune of Rs65 million to the federal government, which it failed to utilise as financial assistance to madressahs in the province since 2004.

It was in 2002-2003 that the federal government decided to give an incentive package for religious education institutions (madressahs) to make arrangement for imparting modern education to their students, in addition to religious studies. The government allocated an amount of Rs6,500 million for the facilitation of about 8,000 madressahs in the country.

The Sindh education department, under a federal government funding, had announced launching of a five-year plan aimed at facilitating about 2,000 institutions of religious education in the province for imparting the modern education, including information technology, in phases.

Out of a fund of Rs92 million received from the federal government in two installments till the financial year 2003-04, Sindh education department could spend about Rs2 million in the name of establishment of related office and purchase of vehicles, it was learnt.

After receiving the first installment, the Sindh education department formally launched “Madressah Reforms Project” in 2004 for arranging teachers, provision of textbooks, sports material, stationary, furniture, computers and other facilities for religious schools, if they opted.

Under the scheme, the willing madressahs were required to teach Mathematics, General Science, Social Studies/ Pakistan Studies, and English from primary to matriculation level, while subjects like Pakistan Studies, Economics, Computer Sciences and English at intermediate level.

According to a source in the education department, madressahs are continuing to apply for the promised incentive package despite the fact that not a single madressah has been benefited yet under the five-year project, which will culminate with the completion of ongoing fiscal year if the project is not renewed by the federal government.

Not a single madressah even after coming up to the terms of the government has been geared up for the “much emphasised education”, said a madressah organiser, adding that initiatives and interests of the education department’s official counted a lot in the implementation of any project.

When contacted an official of the federal education ministry, who is also coordinating for the madressah project, denied to talk in detail on the issue saying that it was a very sensitive subject. However, with the condition of anonymity, he said that the pace of madressah project in all other provinces, except NWFP, had not been up to any considerable extent and now all the concerned were being asked to give an account position and return the unutilized fund.

According to some sources, there is likelihood that federal government will re-launch the fund again with some modifications.

During the years, out of total 193 madressahs which applied for government assistance in Sindh, around 101 were cleared by the law enforcing agencies and intelligence agencies. Following the clearance, physical inspection of only 26 madressahs could be made by the project officials, said a source privy to the reforms project.

When approached, Madressah Reforms Project Manager Munir Ahmad Shaikh expressed hope that some of the madressahs would start getting support in the shape of teaching faculty, equipments and goods and books soon, as the Sindh education secretary had approved the cases pertaining to 26 madressahs recently.

“We have estimated an expenditure of Rs25 million for the year 2006-2007, which will also cover provision of various facilities, including posting of teachers at the madressahs found fit after different exercises,” Mr Shaikh added. He said that the criteria and mechanism for appointment of about 100 teachers for the year would be finalised at a higher forum of the education department soon.