The Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) will receive Rs667.5 million for education projects from the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in the next financial year (2011-2012).
Sources told ‘The News’ that Rs667.5 million approved by the federal government would be spent on 31 new and ongoing development projects in the education sector to be executed through the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
The finance minister in his budget speech would announce further details relating to the PSDP on June 3.
The major chunk, Rs200 million, out of the development budget under the PSDP, would go to upgradation of 50 schools of the federal capital as Islamabad model schools. “ Following approval of CADD summary by the prime minister to upgrade 50 schools in the first phase, the Ministry of Finance has accepted our demand to allocate Rs200 million in the PSDP,” an official of the CADD said.
He said the details of development budget for education development projects have been published in the PSDP document. Official sources said that 50 federal government junior schools located in different parts of Islamabad have been short-listed for the purpose of upgradation in the first phase. “The process of upgradation of these primary schools will be completed during summer vacation,” sources said.
In the first phase, those schools having better facilities and reputation have been chosen for upgradation. “The upgradation will not merely mean change of nomenclature, but we will also improve facilities at these institutions,” sources said. They added that the upgraded schools would also have transport for students and staff, libraries and with buildings having uniform colour scheme. Sources said that separate funds for schools have also been approved and would be provided gradually to the upgraded institutions. The upgradation of middle, high and higher secondary schools and colleges would come in the next phases and the whole process would be completed in three years.
Meanwhile, following upgradation of teachers from BPS-9 to BPS-14 and from BPS-14 to BPS-16 under time-scale promotion formula, the CADD has now started the process for upgradation of teaching staff at present working in BPS-16 and above. “Hopefully, we will complete the upgradation process of teachers from BPS 16 and above up to BPS 20 during summer vacation thus meeting the longstanding demand of teachers,” sources in the FDE said.
The former education secretary and the then FDE management had promised upgradation of schools and teachers last year, but the task could not be accomplished due to incomplete paperwork and poor drafting of summary to be sent to the prime minister on part of those at the helm of affairs. However, the creation of CADD has started showing results, as all delayed projects were being given practical shape, sources said.
The CADD was created about one-and-a-half months back in the light of recommendations of the commission for implementation of the 18th Amendment and all departments having functions in the federal capital have been placed under the division following devolution of certain ministries. More departments would also be given under the control of the CADD with devolution of more ministries like environment, health and food & agriculture.
