Technical objection delays City schools non-salary funds

LAHORE

Despite lapse of almost six months of the current fiscal year, the public schools of Lahore, the provincial metropolis, have yet to receive non-salary funds of around Rs500 million, it is learnt. 

The amount was supposed to be spent by schools through the School Councils for minor repairs, white washing, furniture repair and payment of utility bills etc. 

One wonders as to how the public schools have been managing such jobs when the funds are not available in a City where bureaucracy sits and decides fate of the entire province vis-à-vis reforms and development work.

Sources in School Education Department Punjab said the delay was primarily because of office of the Accountant-General Punjab as it had raised some objection to the mode of transferring the funds. They said deputy accountant-general (DAG) was of the view that joint account of EDO Education and EDO Finance could not be opened for release of the said amount. 

The sources further said interestingly the objection was raised when joint accounts had already been opened in rest of 35 districts of Punjab. They added the DAG had also written to Account Officers of the districts informing them about the “illegal” opening of joint accounts. 

Talking to The News some officials of the School Education Department alleged that the DAG was creating hurdles in an initiative, the provision of Non-Salary Budget (NSB), approved by the chief minister, which was vital for schools under the government’s big reforms agenda “Parho—Punjab, Barho—Punjab”. 

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, they said the schools education department had not taken up the matter seriously owing to which half of time of the current fiscal year was wasted. They said had the secretary schools taken interest, the matter would have been resolved by now. 

They further said there were over 1,200 public schools in Lahore and all of these were managing required jobs related to minor repairs and payment of utility bills etc either through Farogh-e-Taleem Fund (FTF) or through contribution by teachers. 

EDO Education Lahore Muhammad Pervaiz Akhtar said the Deputy Accountant General Punjab Muhammad Ali Farooq Gheba had raised objection to opening of joint FDA Account by EDO Education and EDO Finance and the matter was yet to be resolved. He said that secretary schools was making concrete efforts for the early release of the non-salary budget to schools. 

The News could not reach the DAG and the secretary schools for comments despite repeated calls and messages on their respective cell phones. The following message was sent to the deputy accountant general’s phone 03004811***: “AoA, Sir. Khalid Khattak from The News here. I'm doing a story about delay in release of Non-Salary Budget to schools. Schools department's officials allege that your office has been causing the delay. Please attend call or contact to share your point of view. Regards.”

Our Correspondent adds: Punjab University will remain closed from Thursday 24th of December 2015 to Friday 25th of December 2015 on account of Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) and Quaid-i-Azam Day/Christmas respectively. However, the Christian staff will observe an extra holiday on Saturday 26th of December 2015 on account of Day after Christmas.

EXAM SCHEDULE: Punjab University Examinations Department has notified that the written and practical papers of various examinations which were scheduled to be held on December 16, 2015 and were postponed as per Punjab government’s instructions, will now be conducted on December 23, 2015. Details are also available on www.pu.edu.pk.

DATE SHEETS: Punjab University Examinations Department has issued written date sheets of BBA (Hons.) (1st, 2nd & 3rd) Annual Examination 2015. Detailed date sheets are also available at PU website www.pu.edu.pk.

APS MARTYRS PAID TRIBUTE: Punjab University Centre for Clinical Psychology on Monday organised a ceremony to pay tribute to the martyrs of Army Public School. CCP Director Prof Dr Rukhsana Kausar, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion. The students performed a skit and presented poems and documentary related to the tragic incident.