PC-I of Rs 26.795 billion project returned to education ministry

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has returned a PC-I of Rs 26.795 billion project to the Education Ministry for establishing nearly 82,000 non-formal basic education schools, it is learnt.
Sources told Business Recorder that the ministry has been directed to take up the plan in phases, as huge amount of money would be required for implementing it in one go.
"Besides, schools must have their own buildings and suitable salary be paid to the teachers which should be Rs 4,000 per month at least," they said.
The ministry had submitted a PC-1 to the CDWP, seeking Rs 26.975 billion for the expansion of NFBES, which the Planning Commission had declared dead, sick and slow moving in May last year, and asked for its closure.
However, Education Minister Javed Ashraf Qazi, who was not happy, asked the project director to revise the PC-I and put it before the Planning Commission once again. Sources said the functioning of such schools had remained controversial since the plan was initiated. Their contribution towards promoting literacy was yet to be determined.
The plan for establishing 82,000 home-based schools in areas where separate primary schools for girls were non-existent was initiated under the Prime Minister's Literacy Commission in 1995.
The project, which was designed to provide an opportunity to out-of-school children between age five to nine, received a major setback when teachers were not paid salaries in time and students were not provided learning materials for lack of funds.
Out of 82,000, only 10,000 schools had been established, but unfortunately these were not even functioning properly mainly because of non-provision of funds by the government. The project, which was to be completed in five years ending 2002-03, had been prolonged for indefinite period.
The supervisory allowance to the non-governmental organisations looking after these schools was also increased.
It is also recommended that the amount for teaching aids and material in the schools be increased from Rs 3,500 to Rs 10,000 per year and Rs 500 per month for the utility bills.