The Education Department has released Rs90.5 million for the 51 schools in the district as part of its schools uplift programme, District Officer (Planning and Finance) Tariq Dhillon told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.
The funds will be used to improve school buildings, provide drinking water where lacking and purchase furniture.
He said the funds were released after the Election Commission of Pakistan lifted the ban on new development projects.
He said primary, middle, elementary and high schools for girls and boys in Aimenabad Mor, Tatlay Aali, Gakhar Mandi, Jora Chora, Ahmed Nagar, Alipur Chattha, Kilaske, Jamke Chattha, Manchar Chattha, Rasool Nagar, Qila Deedar Singh, Botalah Sharam Singh, Nawike Virkan, and Badwartah will benefit from the project.
Priority will be given to construction of boundary walls, fixing leaking ceilings, providing fans, bulbs and clean drinking water.
Earlier at a seminar presided over by District Coordination Officer Syed Najam Ahmed Shah, a list of schools that needed immediate repairs was shared with the participants. The list had been prepared by the project management unit after surveying 51 schools.
Executive District Officer (Education) Shaukat Ali Tahir, District Monitoring Officer Safdar Ali and Assistant Commissioners Syed Salahuddin, Ali Akbar Bhinder, Saima Ali and Sumera Zaheer were also present.
EDO Tahir said education officials were surveying the schools to prepare cost estimated for each building. These would be sent to the secretary in eight days.
Report sought on students’ attendance
The Education Department has sought a report from the district officers on students’ attendance in secondary schools. A directive was issued on Monday instructing district officers to survey all schools and prepare a report on students’ attendance for the academic year that ended in March.
Talking to The Express Tribune, EDO Shaukat Ali Tahir said that instructions were sent to the principals on Tuesday to submit class-wise attendance.
He said students’ attendance was being closely monitored. He said the department’s responsibility did not end at increasing the enrolment rate.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2013.