The budget for literacy and non-formal basic education has risen from Rs915 million in 2012-2013 to Rs1.60 billion for 2013-2014. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
The Punjab government has allocated Rs25 billion for development works in education sector for 2013-2014, almost 9 per cent of the Annual Development Programme of Rs290 billion for the province.
There is only a token increase in allocations for school education (from Rs15 billion in the previous year to Rs15.5 billion for 2013-2014) and higher education (from Rs6.65 billion in 2012-2013 to Rs6.67 billion for 2013-2014). Allocations for special education and literacy and non-formal basic education are comparatively noteworthy. Rs15.5 billion has been allocated for school education, Rs6.67 billion for higher education, Rs1.14 billion for special education and Rs1.60 billion for literacy and non-formal basic education.
The budget for literacy and non-formal basic education has risen from Rs915 million in 2012-2013 to Rs1.60 billion for 2013-2014. The budget for special education has been increased from Rs700 million for 2012-2013 to Rs1.140 billion for 2013-2014 for 2013-2014.
School Education
Of the Rs15.5 billion allocated for school education, Rs719 million has been allocated for on-going schemes and Rs14.781 billion for new schemes.
A major chunk of the budget allocated under the ‘new schemes’ head- Rs7.5 billion- is meant for the provision of missing facilities in 2,500 primary schools in the province. Another Rs2.46 billion has been allocated for regular projects under the new scheme and Rs4.82 billion for block allocations.
The policy statement for budget allocations for school education lays great stress on the provision of free and compulsory education for the age group between 5 and 16 years old. It also stresses a commitment to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
The government has also announced ‘strategic interventions’ for school education including early childhood education, provision of IT laboratories at newly upgraded schools and those that were left out in the previous budget, provision of computers and IT education in elementary schools and provision of science labs in secondary schools. The School Education Department has also been tasked with establishing public schools in housing societies in districts and divisional headquarters as part of strategic interventions by the government for school education. These will be established on land already allocated for ‘educational’ purposes.
Higher Education
Rs6.67 billion has been allocated for higher education. Out of this, Rs2.96 billion has been set aside as block allocations under the new scheme budget allocation for higher education - Rs3.407 billion. The budget for on-going schemes, which includes establishment of colleges, provision of missing facilities, upgrade of colleges and establishment of new universities and support, stands at Rs3.452 billion.
The government has identified provision of missing facilities, post graduate facilities, college teachers’ training, establishment of sub-campuses of universities and the Punjab Education Endowment Fund as key interventions in the sector.
Setting new targets for 2013-2014, the government hopes to establish 31 new colleges in the Punjab, provision of missing facilities in 55 colleges, establishment of an IT University in Lahore and establishment of three women’s universities in Sialkot, Multan and Bahalwalpur.
Special Education
With an almost 63 per cent increase, the government has allocated Rs1.140 billion for special education for 2013-2014, compared to Rs700 million in 2012-2013.
Of this year’s amount, Rs905 million has been allocated for new schemes and Rs235 million for on-going schemes. The government plans to establish new centres of special education besides providing pre-service and in-service training to teachers of institutions of special education.
Literacy and Non-Formal Basic Education
Raising budgetary allocation by 75 per cent over from the previous year, the government has allocated Rs1.605 billion for Literacy and Non-Formal Basic Education (L&NFBE). The on-going schemes have been allocated Rs1 billion and new schemes Rs605 million. The government has identified 100 per cent literacy rate in the Punjab by 2019 as the goal for L&NFBE. It also aims are establishing 1, 000 non- formal basic education schools in 11 districts and 500 community centres in the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2013.
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These are budgets for schemes. Salaries of the staff which is the biggest expenditure, is under local government budget allocation, general public services.