The Federal Government is spending Rs 103.917 million under 2nd "Science Education Project" in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) for the promotion of science education and improving capacity building of the educational institutions in the tribal areas.
The Federal Government has included FATA in the 2nd science education project spread over four years (2002-06). Initially the project was for two years but later on it was extended by another two years.
Talking to APP here, Project Manager Ajab Khan said the 2nd science education project was successfully continuing all over the country under which $2420 million were being spent on the promotion of science education.
The Asian Development Bank, he said, would provide 85percent of the funds while 15 percent would be met by the Federal Government.
Giving break-up of the allocations, he said, Punjab would get 55percent followed by NWFP 22 percent, Baluchistan 13 percent, Federal Areas 8 percent and FATA 4 percent. The project was expected to expire in June 2006, he maintained.
Dilating upon salient features of the project, Ajah Khan said, in all 52 science laboratories were being set up in seven tribal agencies and six Frontier Regions (FRs) of which 25 had been completed equipped with all the modern facilities.
Refresher courses for the in-service science teachers of FATA had also been organised to update their knowledge and skill in consonance with the present day requirement.
Moreover, science textbooks, two at middle level (Maths and General Science) and four at the Matric level (Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Maths) had been provided free of cost to the educational institutions in the tribal areas benefiting about 2500 students.
Apart from 2nd Science Education Project, three other educational ventures were currently in progress in FATA that included National Education Assessment System, Streamlining of Deeni Maadaris and IT Matching Programme.
Giving details of Deeni Maadaris project, he informed that religious seminaries willing to register themselves were provided funds. The registration fee was Rs 2000, he said, adding, after registration, three local PTC teachers to impart education in English, Pakistan Studies and Mathematics along with religious teachings. The project was expected to last for long time, he said and added that World Bank had provided funds for the same.
He said that maximum number of Madrassas had been registered in Mohmand, South and North Waziristan Agencies while the number of registration in Kurram, Orakzai and Bajaur agencies was thin during the last one year.
It is pertinent to mention here that first Science Education Project was launched from 1986-94 in settled parts of the country.