Public education: Rules being tweaked to empower PA committee

No timeframe for implementation of changes available

LAHORE:  The rules of business of the Provincial Assembly’s (PA’s) Standing Committee on Education are being revised to give it more authority over education policy and financial matters relevant to the sector, The Express Tribune learnt on Wednesday.

Chairman Qamarul Islam Raja said the move would vest the body with greater powers over the education policy and operation of educational institutions province-wide. He said the proposed changes would enable the committee to provide input over policy and the distribution of education budget among various sectors. The committee would also serve as body with oversight over education institutions and departments, Raja added.

He said that the proposed changes would also empower the committee to monitor spending in various departments. Raja said this would empower the committee to evaluate education department. He said the committee would have the power to monitor the utilisation of funds earmarked for the education sector following the amendments. Raja said he could not give a timeframe for the implementation of the changes.

The committee had been tasked with examining bills of the assembly on matters of education and providing its report to the house with recommendations. The committee also had no power over legislation as it is only tasked with providing recommendations to the PA. The agenda for the committee was also set by the assembly and committee meetings were also convened by the PA.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2015.