Chandigarh, February 18: Even as the government has increased the Budget allocation for education by 9.75 per cent, it is felt that a major part of the amount will be spent on salaries of the staff, leaving little for improving the standard of education.
“Against the total allocation of around Rs 11,000 crore for school education last year, it will be Rs 1,200 crore more this year, but most of it will be spent on paying salaries and administrative expenses,” a senior official said.
Finance Minister Manpreet Badal said, “For easy monitoring of education schemes, we have brought them under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (Elementary and Secondary). The programme outlay is Rs 750 crore and Rs 323 crore for both categories, respectively.”
The state will give sanitary napkins to all girl students in government schools. Besides, 1,155 physical education teachers have been trained to impart self-defence training to girls.
The minister said beginning this year, the government will make at least 6 per cent increase in the annual budgetary allocation to all state universities.
The government has kept aside Rs 50 crore for the construction of new colleges at Bhucho, Mohali, Baluana, Dharmkot, Chhebewal, Dasuya, Samrala, Nabha, Malout and Khem Karan.
The state has allocated Rs 50 crore for Open University in Patiala. A sum of Rs 7 crore has been earmarked for an improvement programme for faculty at Guru Nanak Dev University.
