Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan said that special attention is being paid to the teachers training and role of DSD is commendable in this regard. He said that due to best performance, teachers from other provinces are also getting training from DSD. He said that one billion rupees have been allocated for more than 3.5 lakh teachers of Punjab next budget. Education Minister said that when PML-N government came into power in 2006, it immediately doubled the educational budget. He said that Punjab government also gave laptops to the talented students of other provinces, cash prizes to the position holders, commendatory certificates and foreign tours are also arranged. Rana Mashhood said that Punjab Education Foundation is running 4500 schools under public private partnership and this number will increase to 6000 this year. He said that 500 new primary schools will be constructed while 4 new Daanish Schools open in backward areas in next financial year. He said that more two billion rupees have been added in Punjab Educational Endowment Fund. He said that schools are being shifted to solar energy in those areas where electricity is not available. The Provincial Minister said that Education Department did not return a penny in existing budget and utilized 93 percent budget whereas remaining 7 percent will be transferred and utilized next year. He said that objection is raised against development projects of Punjab but these projects are for common people and transparency has been observed. He said that third party audit has also been conducted. Rana Mashhood said that the protesters are not representatives of teachers. He said that all genuine demands of teachers have been accepted and all representative organizations of the teachers and the government is on one page.
Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan has said that provision of quality education is top priority of Punjab government, that is why, it has allocated more budget for education than other provincial governments. He said that Punjab government has allocated record 27 percent budget for education in financial year 2015-16 whereas KPK allocated 19.6 percent and Sindh 19.5 percent. He said that besides school education and higher education, if special education, TEVTA and non-formal education are included, the total educational budget of Punjab comes to Rs.400 billion and such amount has been allocated for development work.
He said this while addressing a press conference at Directorate of Staff Development (DSD). The Provincial Minister also inaugurated Development Resource Centre at DSD and Teachers Training Resource Centre at Pilot Secondary School Wahdat Colony. Project Director DSD Ehsan Bhutta, Principal Advisor German International Development (GIZ) Nighat Lone, Dr. Digma, Director British Council Tony Fishers were also present on the occasion.
Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan has said that provision of quality education is top priority of Punjab government, that is why, it has allocated more budget for education than other provincial governments. He said that Punjab government has allocated record 27 percent budget for education in financial year 2015-16 whereas KPK allocated 19.6 percent and Sindh 19.5 percent. He said that besides school education and higher education, if special education, TEVTA and non-formal education are included, the total educational budget of Punjab comes to Rs.400 billion and such amount has been allocated for development work.
He said this while addressing a press conference at Directorate of Staff Development (DSD). The Provincial Minister also inaugurated Development Resource Centre at DSD and Teachers Training Resource Centre at Pilot Secondary School Wahdat Colony. Project Director DSD Ehsan Bhutta, Principal Advisor German International Development (GIZ) Nighat Lone, Dr. Digma, Director British Council Tony Fishers were also present on the occasion.
Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan said that special attention is being paid to the teachers training and role of DSD is commendable in this regard. He said that due to best performance, teachers from other provinces are also getting training from DSD. He said that one billion rupees have been allocated for more than 3.5 lakh teachers of Punjab next budget. Education Minister said that when PML-N government came into power in 2006, it immediately doubled the educational budget. He said that Punjab government also gave laptops to the talented students of other provinces, cash prizes to the position holders, commendatory certificates and foreign tours are also arranged. Rana Mashhood said that Punjab Education Foundation is running 4500 schools under public private partnership and this number will increase to 6000 this year. He said that 500 new primary schools will be constructed while 4 new Daanish Schools open in backward areas in next financial year. He said that more two billion rupees have been added in Punjab Educational Endowment Fund. He said that schools are being shifted to solar energy in those areas where electricity is not available. The Provincial Minister said that Education Department did not return a penny in existing budget and utilized 93 percent budget whereas remaining 7 percent will be transferred and utilized next year. He said that objection is raised against development projects of Punjab but these projects are for common people and transparency has been observed. He said that third party audit has also been conducted. Rana Mashhood said that the protesters are not representatives of teachers. He said that all genuine demands of teachers have been accepted and all representative organizations of the teachers and the government is on one page.