The government has earmarked Rs 84.19 billion for Education Affairs and Services in the federal budget for 2016-17 against Rs 75.57 billion it had allocated for last fiscal year, showing an increase of 11 percent.
According to the budget documents Rs 79.5 billion has also been earmarked for Higher Education Commission (HEC) including Rs 21.5 billion under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) and Rs 58 billion on account of current expenditure, showing an increase of 13 percent as compared to Rs 51 billion earmarked for 2015-16.
Overall this is 11 percent higher than last year and highest ever in Pakistan’s history.
- The government has earmarked Rs 8.19 billion for pre-Primary & Primary Education Affairs for 2016-17 against Rs 7.24 billion for 2015-16 which was later revised to Rs 7.24 billion,
- Rs 10 billion earmarked for Secondary Education Affairs & Services for 2016-17 against Rs 8.99 billion for 2015-16,
- Rs 63.59 billion for Tertiary Education Affairs and Services against Rs 56.67 billion earmarked for 2015-16 which was later revised to Rs 56.84 billion,
- Rs 1.16 billion for administration against Rs 1.4 billion for 2015-16 which was later revised to Rs 1.28 billion.
Pakistan’s Public expenditure on education as percentage to GDP is estimated at 2.2 percentage in fiscal year 2015 as compared to 2.1 percentage of GDP in fiscal year 2014, showing an increase of 4.8 percent.
According to World Bank Data Sheet, the latest available Public Sector expenditure on Education as percentage of GDP, in other countries of the region was 2 percent in Bangladesh, 4.6 percent in Afghanistan, 6 percent in Bhutan, 3.8 percent in India, 3.1 percent in Iran and 5.2 percent in Maldives.
After the 18th Constitutional amendment, education as subject has been devolved to provinces, and federal government mainly finances higher education.
The government has earmarked Rs 21.5 billion for the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for the fiscal year 2016-17 in the PSDP. According to budgetary document Rs 5.4 billion earmarked for the new schemes of the HEC, while Rs 16.05 billion earmarked for the ongoing schemes.
The allocated amount for the new important schemes included Ph.D Scholarship Program under Pak-Us Knowledge Corridor phase-1, with total funding of Rs 300 million while Rs297.981 million has been earmarked for Strengthening & Up gradation of the Universities of Less Developed Areas. An amount of Rs 200.000 million has been allocated for the Women University Campuses at Pashin and Khuzdar.
The ongoing schemes of the HEC included Establishment of FATA University with total funding of Rs250.000 million, while Rs 350.000million for Establishment of University of Loralai, Rs 50.000 million for Establishment of University at Sibi, Balochistan has been allocated.
A total amount of Rs 500.000 million has been earmarked for the Fulbright Scholarships Support Program of HEC-USAID Phase-2, while Rs 900.000 mln would be utilized for Indigenous PhD fellowship for 5000 scholars, HEC phase-2. With an amount of Rs105 mln, the FATA, Balochistan students would be facilitated of higher education. An amount of Rs 70 mln would be utilized for the Upgradation of the Federal Government College for Women F-7/2 to Federal Women University Islamabad.
Phir bhi schools ke halat waisi ke waisi he rahaygi
Annual award for the best pessimist of the year goes to you.
Sindh k schools ke halat k baray main bolna chah raha tha waisay main. Baki provinces main to I think phir bhi halaat kaafi behtar haih.
Wait and watch.
The (govt) education sector will go down as usual.
Jaahiloun ko political basis pe hire kia howa hai.
Education budget is less than BB income ‘sport’ program because they want to ‘khush’ the Sindh party too.
Jahalat ki hadd hai.
Government needs to spend more on check and balance at each level of Education system.