Budget: Government unveils major funding for primary education

ISLAMABAD: The incumbent government has earmarked major funding for the education sector in the federal budget 2024-25, in order to provide a suitable environment for children's schooling.  

While presenting the budget in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said that the government had taken numerous steps — including improvement of infrastructure and educational facilities in 167 schools of the federal capital — to ensure the provision of quality education to the youth.

Similarly, the government has planned to start a "School Meal Programme" under which a healthy diet would be provided in 200 primary schools of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) to improve the physical and mental growth of the students.

While highlighting the importance of digital literacy, the minister said that the government would facilitate the schools with tablets and internet, chromebooks, and smart screens, and also introduce digital interventions and blended learning.

Furthermore, digital libraries would be established to promote cultural education and research.

As many as 16 degree colleges in the capital city would be transformed into result-oriented training institutes with the cooperation of renowned universities like NUST, NUML, NSU and COMSATS.

These institutions would offer six-month courses to increase employment opportunities for youth.

The government is going to introduce an education voucher scheme for the enrolled students of private sector schools aimed at providing access to quality education to the poor and needy students.

Similarly, Early Childhood Education (ECE) centres would be established in 100 schools so that a strong foundation of education could be provided to small children.

Moreover, pink buses were being introduced for the travelling of female students from village to city.

On the directions of the Prime Minister, the Daanish Schools project was being spread across Islamabad, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan.