Rs42.5bn allocated for School Education

LAHORE:With an allocation of Rs42.5 billion, School Education received a major share in the overall development budget for the education sector under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2024-25.

This was followed by Rs17 billion for Higher Education, Rs4 billion for Literacy and Non-Formal Education and Rs2 billion for Special Education as announced in the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 here Thursday.

The Punjab government has introduced many new projects and initiatives in the budget. These include, but not limited to, giving out laptops to students, providing meals at public schools, keeping track of teacher attendance digitally, and establishing new universities and colleges.

An amount of Rs6 billion has been earmarked for Chief Minister Punjab Laptop Programme, Rs2.5 billion for Undergraduate Scholarship Programme through the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC), Rs500 million for the establishment of National University, Murree and Rs500 million for the Chief Minister Punjab Schools Meal Programme.

A whopping Rs26.3 billion has been allocated for new initiatives to impart school education through the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) while an amount of Rs8.5 billion has been allocated for the provision of free textbooks among students of the public schools across the province.

A sum of Rs5.5 billion has been allocated for new initiatives of the School Education Department for imparting education by outsourcing of public schools through the Punjab Education Initiatives Management Authority (PEIMA). Punjab Daanish Schools and Centres of Excellence Authority will receive Rs2.5 billion.

PU Academic Council approves several programmes

A meeting of the Punjab University Academic Council approved several programmes on the recommendations of the Board of Studies and Faculty Boards of various departments. In his address, PU Vice Chancelor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood congratulated the newly-elected members of the Affiliation Committee, including Prof Dr Sajid Rashid Ahmed and Prof Dr Sohail Chand. He hoped that the members would contribute to the development of Punjab University and affiliated colleges.