Capital’s school buildings in dilapidated condition

Parliamentary panel seeks report on repairs, budget consumption

ISLAMABAD: The Sub Committee of the Standing Committee on Federal Education & Professional Training has asked the Federal Directorate of Education to submit a plan for improving the state of the buildings of public schools.

Buildings of some schools are in such bad shape that they might crash down on children anytime, members of the committee noted in a meeting held at the Parliament House.

During the briefing on repair, maintenance and scrutiny of budget allocation for education Committee Convener Senator Rana Maqbool said that the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training should make government schools buildings better. He said that the condition of some schools is really poor and if a building gets damaged, it can cause deaths.

Officials informed the committee that the ministry has conducted a baseline survey in 423 institutions to check the situation of missing facilities and maintenance work.

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Senior officials of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training briefed the committee on the federal government schools, repair, maintenance and scrutiny of budget allocation for education. They said 90% of the budget goes on salaries of employees.

The committee recommended that the required funds should be allocated for the repair of schools' boundary walls and other infrastructure in the federal capital.

The committee was informed that a survey was conducted to devise a plan for the reconstructions of the infrastructure.

The committee also examined the point of public importance regarding rules formulated for PhD. The committee proposed that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) should avoid evolving irrelevant subject in PhD.

Senator Javed Abbasi said that Islamabad schools were famous for labs, infrastructure and had very good repute and result overall but it’s deteriorating now. Senator Muhammad Ali Khan Saif added that; some schools in the rural side of Islamabad are in the worst conditions.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2019.