Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Government education sector to get Rs.55 crores

Special Correspondent

Recommendation of UDF High Power Committee

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In order to correct the perception that it promotes only private sector in the field of education, Finance Minister Vakkom Purushothaman has earmarked more than Rs.55 crores for the Government education sector, covering modernisation of schools, laboratory facilities particularly for higher secondary schools and purchase of computers for promoting information technology.

The Finance Minister has acceded to the UDF High Power Committee's recommendation that higher allocation need be made for the Government education sector in order to clear the perception that the Government was promoting only the private sector at the cost of Government schools.

Political significance

The Finance Minister's budget proposals for the education sector and the budgetary allocation assumes political significance in an election year given the fact that the Government has over the last five years faced students agitation solely on this issue.

Mr.Purushothaman, in his speech, said that he had set apart Rs.13 crores for the development of schools under the Modernisation in Government Programme. Teachers' training in view of the grading system has been allocated Rs.1.60 crores.

Modernisation plan

A sum of Rs.25 crores has been allotted for modernising laboratories and other facilities in higher secondary schools and other schools, while Rs.5 crores has been provided for the purchase of computers.

Vocational Higher Secondary schools would get around Rs.4.5 crores in all for the development of infrastructure and improving quality.

The Finance Minister said the Government would bring legislation for a new Technical University.

Library network

Around 200 colleges in the State, he said, would be linked with INFLIB NET, the library scheme of the UGC.

The Edusat programme would be implemented in all the engineering colleges, polytechnics, and technical schools in the State, he said.

But the Minister did not announce any separate allocation for these in his Budget speech.

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