LAHORE, Jan 29: Education Minister Imran Masood admitted before the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday that 604 middle and primary schools in Lahore, working under the administrative control of the district government, were without electricity and fans.

Similarly, he said, there were some 616 middle and primary schools which were without furniture. Mats were not provided to these schools as such a seating was not befitting for the students of the 21st century.

The minister gave these details in written answer to a question asked by MMA’s Ehsanullah Waqas.

Imran Masood said the government would provide electricity and furniture to these schools according to its resources.

A member said at a time when the government was unable to meet the basic requirements of its schools in the provincial metropolis, the announcement for free education up to matriculation was nothing more than a farce.

The minister disputed the assertion, saying Rs400 million had been earmarked for the scheme.

The session was presided over by Speaker Afzal Sahi. Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi also came to the House for some time.

Replying to another question by the same member, the minister said education officials in grade 17 and above would be empowered to attest the admission forms of private matriculation candidates. But these officials would be required to send their specimen signatures to the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education so that they could be matched with the attested forms. A proposal was also under consideration to give such a power to MNAs and MPAs, he said.

Dewan Akhlaq Ahmad asked about the number of primary schools for boys and girls in Okara district where classes could not be started despite the completion of buildings for the past several years.

The minister said the number of such schools stood at 98. However, expenditure for 75 of them had been sanctioned, though no staff had been appointed for them. The case of the remaining 23 schools had also been sent to the Finance Department.

He said classes could not be started due to non-availability of teachers. A ban on appointments had been in existence for the past seven years because of which no fresh appointment was made. Some 25,700 teachers had been appointed on contract as a result of which the intensity of the problem was lowered to some extent, he said. Answering a question put up by Shehla Rathore, the minister said Sialkot district needed 1,146 more teachers to meet its requirements. At present, there were 6,272 teachers against the sanctioned strength of 7,418.

He said MSc psychology, MA education and BSc (honours) classes would be started at the University of Sargodha from next month. Classes for B-pharmacy, MBA and BA (accounting) would be started in September.

In response to another question, the minister said there was no high schools for girls in Satellite Town, Chiniot. However, a building for the middle school had been completed three years back. Staff for the schools would be recruited after the district government made available the required funds.

About the English teachers appointed on contract, he said they numbered 17,114 in the province. Those duly qualified were eligible for annual increments. Others were receiving fixed salaries, he clarified.