Over 2,500 schools to be upgraded in Punjab
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—As many as 2,505 schools would beungraded in Punjab under the Education Sector Reform Programme (PESRP) of the Punjab government by the end of the next year, an official said Monday.
He told that under the programme about 1526 primary schools would be elevated to middle level and 979middle schools to high level.
So far, 905 schools had been upgraded, since the start of the project in 2004, he said.
“Out of the total upgraded schools, 726 primary schools were given status of middle while 179 middle schools were ungraded to high level,” he added. He said under the programme priority was being given to elementary schools, with special focus on female education in underdeveloped districts of the province.
“Raising the status of 392 female primary schools to the middle level in comparison with 334 male schools and 132 female middle schools to high level in comparison with 47 male schools is a testimony to this fact,” he said. He observed that education, the key agent for socialdevelopment, had been the priority agenda for the Punjab Government during the last five years. Today due to upgradation of educational institutions andintroduction of other reforms, the province was well on its way to implement a holistic, sector-wise reform strategy, he said.
He said under PESRP, a sum of Rs. 17.5 billion had beenallocated during 2003-06 to provide missing facilities in schools. While around 27 million free textbooks had been provided on annualbasis to about 11 million students of government and PunjabEducation Foundation (PEF) partner schools from Class Katchi (Nursery) to Matric. Around 3,50,000 girl students of fifteen low literacydistricts, from Class 5th to 10th, have been given monthly stipendof Rs. 200 on quarterly basis contingent upon 80% school attendance, he said.
“In order to improve the evaluation system, PunjabExamination Commission has also been established for examinationof Class 5th and Class 8th in all over the province as per latest techniques,” he added.
He said under the programme priority was being given to elementary schools, with special focus on female education in underdeveloped districts of the province. He observed that education, the key agent for socialdevelopment, had been the priority agenda for the Punjab Government during the last five years.