Plans for education sector initiatives included in budget proposals

CM approves raise in stipends for girl students in south Punjab

LAHORE: The government has included several new education sector initiatives in the 2016-17 budget proposals, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Requesting anonymity because he is not authorised to talk to the media, an official working in the Chief Minister’s Office said that several proposals had been approved for the education sector. “In the upcoming budget, stipends for female students will be raised from Rs200 to Rs1,000 per month. Female students from grade six to 10 will receive this stipend in all south Punjab districts. This step is being taken to increase enrollment of girls,” the official said.

“There are several reasons for girls dropping out from government schools after passing fifth grade in south Punjab. In most cases, families stop sending their girls to schools due to financial constraints. This policy will certainly help improve girls’ enrollment in public schools after fifth grade. Our particular focus is on female students because families prefer to send boys to schools,” another official said.

“The CM has also approved a policy that there should be at least one high school in each union council. Middle schools in all union councils that do not have a high school will be upgraded. There are some 4,028 union councils in the Punjab. All of these will now have a high school,” the official said. He said that the CM had also approved inclusion of funds in the budget to provide missing facilities in all girls’ schools in the Punjab. “The Education Department will be directed to utilise these funds to construct boundary walls, toilets and provide drinking water in all schools by the end of 2016-17,” he said.

The CM has also approved a revised recruitment policy for primary school teachers in the Punjab. Candidates from the same area, village or locality will be given preference in recruitment for primary schools. “If a teacher is to be recruited for a village school, local candidates will be the first choice,” the official said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2016.