The Sindh government, in the annual budget for the financial year 2023-24, has allocated 312 billion rupees for the education sector decreasing it by Rs 14.554 billion as in FY 2022-23 the education sector was given top priority by allocating Rs. 326.80 billion.
For the Fiscal Year 2021-22, the provincial government allocated Rs277.5 billion to the education sector enhancing the education budget of Rs 244.5 billion for FY 2020-21. However, for FY 2023-24, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in his budget speech claimed that the provincial government has allocated a raised budget for education by 7 percent.
He said that under the IBA Sukkar, 58,000 primary and middle school teachers were recruited. All teachers were provided training and assigned to schools according to the policy of competency and merit. He said that around 2,582 positions for teachers were created in 2023-24. The newly recruited teachers will be upgraded from grade 9 to 14.
He said that around 27 primary schools were upgraded to middle schools, and middle schools were upgraded to secondary schools. Likewise, 150 secondary schools will be upgraded to higher secondary schools. Approval will be given for the recruitment of 892 new employees at a cost of 846.709 million rupees. Similarly, as many as 26.78 billion rupees have been allocated for colleges across Sindh. Also, for the provision of equipment in public colleges all over Sindh for Rs1000 million against which Rs200 million have been allocated.
He said that 400 million rupees are allocated for furniture and fixtures, and 425 million rupees for college buildings maintenance. The CM said that 1500 lecturers will be recruited through the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC). Also, 23 new colleges will be established in the coming financial year. This will create 445 new positions and equipment will be purchased worth 403 million rupees.
He said that 987.8 billion rupees have been allocated to strengthen the Sindh Higher Education Commission (Sindh HEC). The grant for universities has been increased from 569 million rupees to 987.8 million rupees. The grant for all government universities has been increased from 17.4 billion rupees to 25.2 billion rupees for the next financial year.
He said that the budget for the Sindh Education Foundation (SEF) has been increased from 13.299 billion rupees to 15.6 billion rupees. The Sindh government has introduced the Accelerated Digital Learning Program under SEF and it will reduce the number of out-of-school children.
He said that 125 micro schools will be established across the province. These schools will provide education to 12,500 students. The government has proposed a budget of 710 million rupees for the Accelerated Digital Learning Program under SEF. Likewise, 2.53 billion rupees have been allocated for the distribution of free books while 1.553 billion rupees will be utilized for the establishment of non-formal teaching centers for out-of-school children. Jobs will be given to promote girls’ education. Around 800 million rupees have been allocated for regular positions and 140 million rupees for special children.
He said that after successful negotiations with the European Union, financial cooperation has been obtained under DEEP. The allocated budget for program implementation has been increased from 50 crore rupees to 80 crore rupees while 30 crore rupees have been allocated for the restoration of dilapidated schools. The annual budget of the ASPIRE project under the European Union has been increased from Rs 2.161 billion to Rs 4.114 billion.
According to him an annual budget of 1.537 billion rupees have been allocated for the salaries of 5,125 teacher employed by federal government. Additionally, 1.605 billion rupees have been allocated for the procurement of educational equipment from recommended institutions.
The public school grant has been increased from 140 million rupees to 400 million rupees, as announced by the Chief Minister of Sindh. Furthermore, 5 billion rupees have been allocated for the maintenance of public schools and 425 million rupees for the maintenance of public colleges.
A grant of 2 billion rupees has been assigned for Sindh Technical Education & Vocational Training Authority (STEVTA). Lastly, a grant of 1.250 billion rupees has been allocated for the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Human Resources and Research Development Board, as announced by the Chief Minister.
While presenting the 5th consecutive budget of Rs2.2 billion with deficit of Rs37.7 billion, the CM maintained that the School Education budget has been enhanced by 13.1 percent to Rs. 267.6 billion. The Sindh government has been successful in attracting and securing Chinese grants of Rs. 7,659 million for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 646 schools.
Under the Flood Restoration Program and Sindh Development through Enhanced Education Program (DEEP), 112 damaged schools would be rehabilitated on resilient and environmentally friendly fabricated structures in five districts for Rs. 3,011 million.
Under Sindh Education & Literacy Department (SE&LD) portfolio, 46 new schemes related to the repair/rehabilitation of existing schools damaged by rain, have been included at an estimated cost of Rs. 4,416.257 million, and 45 schemes have been dedicated to the construction/reconstruction of existing schools affected by flood 2022 at cost of Rs. 4,492.004 million.
A new scheme titled “Program for Flood Response Through Reconstruction Of Education Facilities in Sindh” in partnership with JICA has been proposed. The share of the Government of Sindh is Rs. 142.410 million has been proposed in ADP (2023-24) for districts such as Mirpurkhas, Khairpur, Badin, S.B.A, Sukkur, Ghotki & Dadu. Moreover, the share of JICA is estimated to be Rs. 1,424.218 million.
Ongoing Flagship Projects of ADP 2023-24
In the ongoing flagship of ADP 2023-24, under the Rs 11,777.401 million project 50 state-of-the-art resilient schools are being constructed on prefabricated mild steel structures. The project is implemented under three separate schemes: the Establishment of 25 English Medium schools; one in each district, the Establishment of 15 Comprehensive High schools, and the establishment of 10 Comprehensive High schools; one in each district.
The expenditures on the project have been recorded at Rs7,931.005 million and the allocation for the next financial year, 2023-24 is Rs1.51 billion. The project would be completed in June 2025.
The chief minister disclosed that 34 schools including 20 English Medium and 14 Comprehensive have been made functional. 15 schools have also been provided furniture, IT equipment, and science material. To carry out the remaining works on five more English Medium schools in Shikarpur, Umerkot, Tharparkar, Kamber, and Jacobabad.Cold-formed steel structures in 10 schools would be provided during the next financial year 2023-24.
He said that Aror University of Art, Architecture, Design, and Heritage (AUAADH) Sukkur is being established. The aim of the RS1.595 billion project is to provide modern methods of teaching as well as research activities in Art, Architecture, Design, and Heritage for developing Human Resources for the country so that highly qualified manpower can contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.
There are no reviews yet.