ISLAMABAD, June 15: Civil society representatives, academics, economists and analysts criticised the meagre allocation for education in the federal budget 2007-08, changing the basis and fudging of numbers.

They also came down heavily on the government for its inability to increase the absorptive capacity of the public sector educational institutions which is the only way to ensure access to quality education for students of all social classes.

The seminar was organised by the Pakistan Coalition for Education (PCE) and Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) to delineating civil society’s response on the federal allocation for education.

Zehra Arshad, National Coordinator PCE and Nighat Rafaq from SPO highlighted the importance of the subject in the light of deteriorating education standards, grossly unsatisfactory enrolment in primary schools, teacher absenteeism and the lack of basic infrastructure.

They emphasised the need for consulting civil society while formulating the policies and budget.

Muhammad Rashid Zaka from the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) presented a research conducted by his organisation which looked at the consistent under-spending in education sector even after downward revisions, which take place during the fiscal year.

He said the government was able to spend 20 per cent of the budget available during the first three quarters of the last fiscal year.

Dr Asad Sayeed, leading economist and political analyst, categorically rejected the government’s assertions made in the budget about increased allocations for social services including education.

“We seriously lag behind targets set by the government itself under the Millennium Development Goals”, he said and stressed the need for striking a balance between primary and higher education.

He urged the government to encourage co-education at the primary level to utilise the financial resources more effectively.

“Pakistan is, perhaps, the only country where small children are sent to segregated schools while they are together in mosques for learning Quran and in universities as well,” he added.

Dr Syed Fayyaz Ahmad, Joint Educational Adviser, Ministry of Education blamed the politicians for not reaching a consensus on basic issues pertaining to education.

He said that while devolution is a good thing in principle, rules of business need to be laid out and applied for improving resource flow from the Ministry of Finance to the basic level of delivery of services by a primary school in a district.

Dr Ahmad said, “there may be some grey areas, but the government has already allocated huge budget for their removal. It is evident from the progress made in this sector.”

He said that it was very essential to have a uniform education system and regulatory authority would keep an eye on private education institutions.

Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy, professor at Quaid-i-Azam University talked about the higher education spending and rejected the priorities set by the Higher Education Commission.

“The policy makers have made a mockery of higher education in Pakistan and they should be tried in courts for their negligence and incompetence”, he said.