PESHAWAR, July 28: The federal government has directed the NWFP government to stop further partnership with the private sector in establishing computer labs in the public sector schools as the federal education ministry will assist it in this regard.

Sources in the education department told Dawn on Saturday that the federal education ministry had advised the NWFP government not to involve private parties in procurement of computer installing project as the Centre would fulfil its requirements.

The federal education ministry has already announced that it will provide about 8,000 refurbished computers to be installed in the secondary and higher secondary schools of the NWFP.

The provincial government, with the partnership of the private sector, has started computer literacy programme and started installation of computer labs in the schools.

So far, about 135 secondary and higher secondary schools have computer labs across the province, particularly in the urban areas. The education department had signed agreement with 10 private parties to provide computers and teaching staff in public sector schools. Under the agreement, the private parties will hand over the computer labs and furnitures to the concerned schools after six years.

The computer education fee for class 6th to 8th is Rs50 and for class 9th Rs100 whereas the intermediate level students have to pay Rs200 per month.

A concerned official said information collected from different schools revealed that the fee ratio had become a discouraging factor in promoting computer literacy.