Low on priority: Another bad year for education

No new education projects in Islamabad, funding for existing projects lower than expected.

ISLAMABAD:

After the devolution of the education ministry to the provinces, education projects in the twin cities received minimum attention from budget makers as no new schemes were initiated, with the ongoing projects receiving Rs2.5 billion.

Education projects previously being looked after by the education ministry were given to the Capital Administration and Development Authority (CADD) and the Cabinet Division. The five ongoing projects have been allocated a collective of Rs123 million and four of them would be completed by the CADD.

These projects include CADD’s ongoing scheme to build 119 computer labs in education institutes in Islamabad, which has been allocated Rs30 million for 2012-13. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs199.2 million, with Rs169.2 million already spent on it.

For strengthening of Islamabad Model College for Girls F-7/4, the government has allocated Rs25 million in 2012-13, which has a total estimated cost of Rs79.2 million. Another Rs33.3 million has been allocated for the establishment of FG Degree College for Women in Bhara Kahu, while Rs25.6 million has been spared for construction and renovation work on FG Girls Secondary School Dhok Gangal.

The second phase of the construction of the National Book Foundation’s head office building has been allocated Rs17.264 million under the Cabinet Division.

Higher Education Commission

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) will get Rs2.4 billion for projects underway in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The HEC would be given Rs400 million for Infrastructure Development of the Islamabad campus of the Comsats Institute of Information Technology, budgeted at Rs2.6 billion.

For the development of Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, the government has allocated Rs100 million of the total estimated cost of Rs428.411 million, while Rs217 million has already been spent on the project to date.

The first phase of the expansion of the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) has been allocated Rs150 million, while total cost is estimated at Rs916 million. The second phase of the project, which will also begin in 2012-13, has been allocated Rs100 allocated for the new fiscal year.

Compared to its iconic counterpart National College of Arts (NCA) Lahore, the Rawalpindi campus is still in its infancy, trying to secure an efficient campus and hostel. A step in that direction was taken with Rs100 million being allocated for the development of the Rawalpindi campus in 2012-13.

Islamic International University Islamabad would get Rs100 million for construction of three hostel blocks, whereas infrastructure development projects for the H-10 campus have almost reached the estimated total cost of Rs481 million with this year’s injection of Rs45 million.

Meanwhile, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila would get Rs150 million for strengthening and upgrading its main and sub campuses. The project started in 2011 and received Rs204 million last year, while the total cost is Rs965 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 3^rd, 2012.