Rs22.8b earmarked for higher education

PESHAWAR: The provincial government has increased spending on higher education by 100 percent with the budget allocation for four years standing at Rs22.80254 billion.

According to the three years’ progress report issued by the Department of Education, the budget utilisation remained 104 percent during 2013-14, 103 percent in 2014-15 and 111 pc in 2015-16.

As part of promoting higher education in the province, the government has upgraded Havelian campus to full-fledged Hazara University whereas provisions have been made in the ADP 2016-17 to upgrade Chitral and Buner campuses to full universities.

Moreover, two colleges for home economics have been established in the Nowshera and Abbotabad for promotion of gender specific education whereas two women universities have been established in Mardan and Swabi. 

In order to promote research in universities of KP, 199 M.Phil and 120 Ph.D students were provided financial assistance under the faculty development programme during the past three years. The government has also initiated BS programmes in various colleges, for which Rs424 millions have been spent on recruiting teachers. Additionally, Rs200 millions have been released in the ADP 2015-16 for the same purpose. 

The statement also mentioned a number of other measures taken by the government for promotion of education.