VEHARI, Sept 6: Punjab Colleges DPI Dr Shaukat Ali said on Wednesday that the provincial government would begin executing the Rs2 billion World Bank project of colleges’ upgradation within next two months.

“The World Bank (WB) has released the first instalment of the Rs 2 billion funding under which two colleges of each district would be upgraded in the Punjab”, the DPI said during a visit to degree colleges for boys and girls here.

DO Colleges Mrs Farrukh Javed, boys college principal Shaukat Hanjra and girls college principal Mrs Nasreen Abbasi were also present.

He said that a summary had been sent to the chief minister for Rs 5,000 per month special allowance for college principals. He said that entire money being received from the students would go into a single account.

Dr Shaukat Ali further disclosed that an agreement had been signed with the Beacon House National University to enhance the capacity of teachers and to polish their knowledge-transfer skills as per modern age requirements through training courses.

He said that the colleges to be upgraded under the WB project would have digital libraries linked with Higher Education Commission (HEC). These colleges would also have well equipped laboratories.

He also unveiled a plan to recruit 4000 more teachers in the next phase who would be selected through district committees to be formed later instead of their selection through the Punjab Public Service Commission.

Teachers would be able to enjoy modern faculty lounges at the colleges after the completion of WB project, he added.

He advised the principals to utilize the college funds judiciously to meet the furniture requirements and to hire teachers in consultation with the college council to meet the shortage of teachers.—APP