PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Moreover, the government allocated Rs1 billion for Special education, Rs1 billion for special education, Rs35 billion has been allocated for tertiary education, Rs1.5 billion for Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) and Rs400 million for Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC).
The budget also earmarked funds for the construction of the six new universities and 63 colleges in the province.
School Education
The government allocated Rs3.46 billion for the new schemes of the school education department while Rs2.540 billion was allocated for the ongoing schemes.
In the budget of 2018-19, total Rs25 billion was allocated for the school education sector while this year in the budget of 2019-20 total Rs32 billion was allocated for the school education sector.
There are many new initiatives for the school education department in this budget as the provincial government would be carrying out a number of new programmes including the provision of missing facilities at schools, IT labs and establishment of smart classrooms for teachers training.
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The government also announced it will expand Insaf School Program and for this purpose, evening shifts will be started at various schools across the province.
The Punjab government has set up targets for the financial year 2019-20. Missing facilities would be provided at 150 schools, IT labs would be established at 340 elementary, secondary and higher secondary schools. The budget also set a target for the establishment of 677 additional classrooms. Funds have been allocated for the reconstruction of 100 dilapidated school buildings in Punjab.
Establishment of 3,250 model classrooms and special studies on multiple options for the provisions of the meal for students and the introduction of vocational and technical education at schools are among the targets set by the government.
Higher Education
The Punjab government allocated Rs7.3 billion for the Higher Education Department. For new schemes, Rs2.394 billion was allocated while Rs4.51 billion was allocated for the on-going schemes.
The government will establish six new universities in Muree, Bhakar, Chakwal, Mianwali, Rawalpindi while Baba Guru Nanak University will be set up at Nankana Sahib. The government has also allocated Rs2 billion for the construction of 63 new colleges across Punjab.
Special Education
The government has allocated total Rs1 billion for the special education department. In budget 2018-19 the amount was also Rs1 billion.
The government has allocated Rs417.295 million for the new schemes in special education department while Rs582.704 million has been allocated for the on-going schemes.
The construction of 10 new buildings for special education centers at Jhelum, Gujrat, Kasur, Multan, Vehari, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Lahore and Sheikhupura would cost Rs770 million.
The provision of transport for special students of institutes and centres are also the priority of the government and Rs334 million was allocated for this purpose.
Literacy and non-formal basic education
The budget has allocated Rs2.6 billion for the literacy and non-formal basic education while Rs800 million was allocated for the new schemes and Rs1.8 billion for the for on-going schemes.
The government has also set a target to enrol 574,000 out of school children between the age of four to 14 years.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2019.
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