Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to spend Rs 12.18 billion on education in next fiscal year

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has earmarked Rs 12.18billion for higher education, elementary and secondary education to initiate various development projects in the sectors for the next financial year 2012-13. According to budget a marginal increase in Annual Development Programme for education sector against current financial year.
A meagre increase of funds reflects for next financial year, as 24.92 percent for elementary and secondary education, and 13.74 percent allocated, to carry out 90 schemes, including 25 new and 65 ongoing plans. As per budgetary allocation in the Annual Development Programme, the elementary and secondary education sector will get Rs 7.116 billion in the next financial year showing a decrease of Rs 872 million against the current fiscal year, whereas a sum of Rs 5.1 billion has been allocated for higher education development programmes against the estimates figures Rs 4.1 billion during 2011-12.
Rs 75.3 billion has been allocated for salaries, expenditure and miscellaneous expenses for elementary and secondary education, with an increase of Rs 23.165 billion against the revised estimates in the current fiscal year. Similarly, out of the current budget an amount of Rs 5.4 billion has been earmarked for higher education and Rs 2.82 billion for technical education.
A sum of Rs 4.6 billion has earmarked on head of salaries and the remaining amount of Rs 761 million will be eaten up by multiple heads of the non-salary account in the higher education sector, as an increase of Rs 650 million reflects for next financial year for the sector. The provincial government spent a total of Rs 4.7 billion on the higher education (current side) in the outgoing financial year. A specific amount has been allocated for establishing new technical institutes, modernising some old institutions and increasing the capacity and enrolment of students.
Rs 1.2 billion will be spent for more than 90 project for promotion of education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including 25 new projects and 65 ongoing plans. The significant projects in the sector are establishment of model schools in Haripur, Hangu, Charsadda, Mardan and Battagram districts, establishment of a cadet college and major supportive reforms programmes with the assistance of DFID and European Union (EU).
The higher education sector will primarily focus on its ongoing programme and its new portfolio includes plans for provision of additional facilities in government colleges, strengthening of existing public libraries, capacity building and establishment of pre-service academy for teachers, connecting its colleges with Pakistan Education, Research Network and procurement of science equipment, machinery, sports gear, furniture and books for government colleges."