KARACHI, June 20: The Sindh government plans to spend only 5 per cent of the total PSDP allocation of Rs1.6 billion on nine new schemes in the educational sector during the year 2002-2003.

According to Sindh government’s budget documents, Rs35 million have been earmarked for four new elementary/primary education schemes, while another Rs20 million have been allocated for two schemes of the Education Foundation. The government intends to spend Rs5 million for one scheme in the special education sector, while another Rs10 million on one new scheme in the technical education sector.

In all, Rs80 million have been allocated for new schemes, while the rest of the educational sector’s development budget would go on meeting the revenue and capital expenditures pertaining to 339 ongoing schemes, including 126 that of primary education, 69 secondary education and 45 technical education. No fresh allocation has been made in the case of teacher education, but a sum of Rs85.064 million has been earmarked for 10 such ongoing schemes.

An amount of Rs10 million has been allocated for e-governance and promotion of IT in the education department, under the new scheme in the technical education sector. Another amount of Rs10 million has been allocated for restoration of historical education institution buildings in Sindh.

In the case of Karachi, an amount to the tune of Rs291.786 million has been allocated for 101 ongoing schemes, while there is no allocation for any new scheme during the new year.

At Karachi, 25 primary/elementary education, 15 secondary education, 13 technical education, 27 college education, schemes are under completion, out of which 41 are such schemes where 75 per cent or physical progress is expected by the end of 2002- 2003.

Another amount of Rs79.560 million has been allocated for undertaking addition and improvement works, establishment works, upgradation works, pertaining to 28 ongoing college, higher secondary, secondary schools and monotechnic institute schemes in the city.

The new schemes in the elementary education sub-sector for the province include early childhood education, decentralized social management project, promotion of science, cultural and arts activities in the educational institutions of Sindh and promotion of computer education.