KARACHI - The Sindh government has earmarked Rs10.7 billion for education sector for the fiscal year 2014-15.
In this budget, the provincial government has kept an allocation of Rs134.32 billion for non-development expenditure of education, which is 31 per cent of total current revenue expenditure.
According to reports, the provincial government had decided to accord top priority to some major sectors, including education in the budget of 2014-15. According to the budget documents, a large number of schemes of construction and up gradation of schools and colleges are being implemented through this allocation.
The government is setting up 10 new public schools at Umerkot, Sanghar, TM Khan, Tando Allahyar, Ghotki, Matiyari, Kamber-Shahdadkot, Gadap, Dadu and Jacobabad.
Eight new cadet colleges are being established at Dadu, Gadap, Mithi, Khairpur, Karampur, Jacobabad, Badin & Tando Jam. The allocation for SERP related activities has been kept at Rs13.6 billion, out of which Rs1500m will be spent on stipends for female students; Rs1540m on provision of free textbooks to students; Rs4000m on improving infrastructure for schools; and Rs1750m will be transferred to School Management Committees for community identified school improvement investments.
The government has also kept an allocation of Rs5b for the universities functioning in Sindh. These universities are under severe financial stress as their grants from HEC are being squeezed.