Educational institutions: Parliamentary panel for taking urgent steps towards dilapidated buildings

A parliamentary panel has directed the government to take immediate steps for infrastructure development of public sector educational institutions to avert any mishap as a result of dilapidated buildings. A Sub-Committee of Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training was met with Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed in the chair here on Monday. The committee discussed the budgetary allocations for educational institutions in the federal capital.
During the meeting, Rana Maqbool said that many public sector educational institutions in the federal capital are in dilapidated conditions. The committee was informed that a survey of 423 schools of the federal government was conducted to devise a plan for reconstruction of infrastructure.
The senior officials of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training briefed the committee about the federal government schools, repair, maintenance and scrutiny of budget allocation for education. He said that unfortunately 90 percent allocated funds for the educational institutions of the federal governments
were spent on current expenditure.
The additional secretary education said that due to less budgetary allocation for education, the public sector schools in the federal capital are not in good shape, adding that repair work of public sector schools needs multimillion rupees but the Federal Directorate of Education lacks funds and as a result various schools are in dismal condition.
The convener committee and other members said that the Federal Ministry of Education and Professional Training must take serious steps towards restoration of public sector schools in the federal capital, saying that old buildings may collapse at anytime and are posing serious threats to the lives of students.
Rana Maqbool said that it is the responsibility of the federal government to provide a safe environment to the students.
Senator Javed Abbasi said that educational institutions of the federal government as compared to public sector educational institutions of rest of the country are quite better but the negligence on
part of the relevant departments has worsened the situation. Senator Mohammad Ali Saif said that the public sector educational institutions situated in the rural areas of the federal capital are in worst condition with no drinking water, low-voltage power supply and poor sanitation conditions. He asked the officials to immediately take necessary steps in this connection, adding that in neighbouring countries the public sector educational institutions are being operated on public-private partnership basis which has significantly improved the overall situation.
The panel directed the officials of the Ministry of Education and Professional Training and the Federal Directorate of Education to prepare a viable plan on the improvement of the infrastructure of the government-run educational institutions in the federal capital and submit a report.
The committee directed the relevant departments and officials to provide required funds for the repair of schools' boundary walls and other infrastructure in the federal capital, saying the departments are created to serve and not to rule.
Member committee Mohammad Ali Saif wile talking up the issue of curriculum devised by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for PhD in law said that the irrelevant subjects are part of the curriculum. He said that the HEC must review the curriculum as mathematics and economic like subjects have nothing to do with the law scholars.