MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government on Thursday issued financial approval of an education package worth Rs2.98 billion to strengthen the education system and address the shortage of teachers.
The development came after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said that no package or development project can be given 120 days before the elections.
Former Prime Minister AJK Raja Farooq Haider Khan has said that we will approach the Election Commission against the educational package, and after consultation, we will decide to appeal against the decisions of the High Court and Supreme Court.
According to a statement issued by the Finance Department of AJK, the process of upgradation of educational institutions and creation of new posts under the package will be started immediately.
As per details, a total of 1035 schools across the state have been included in the approved education package, while the government has also provided funds and financial consent for the creation of 3319 new posts.
These posts have been divided into different categories so that the needs of educational institutions can be met effectively.
Moreover, 368 posts have been allocated to meet the current shortage of staff in various schools, while 2692 posts will be created under the upgradation process.
In addition, 259 new posts have been approved for the establishment of new schools to improve access to education in remote areas of the state.
The Finance Department said that after financial approval, the Education Department will now start the implementation process.
AJK cabinet approves Education Package 2026
On April 23, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) cabinet approved the Education Package 2026, which includes a budget allocation of Rs 2.45 billion for schools and Rs 766.5 million for higher education.
Addressing the press conference, the minister for school education, Dewan Ali Khan Chughtai, said that the education package is basically a continuation of the National Education Policy, under which the shortage of educational institutions across the state and the discrepancy in the student-teacher ratio will be addressed.
He further said that under the package, the upgradation of educational institutions and the posts of teaching cadre have been approved as per the rationalization policy on the basis of need.
As per the details, 868 educational institutions will be upgraded, 259 posts will be made for the establishment of 182 new elementary and secondary schools, 2692 new posts will be created for the upgradation of the existing 653 schools, while 368 posts will be created in the existing 200 schools.
A total of Rs 2978.99 million will be spent on creating these posts, the minister said.
Higher Education Package
Moreover, Minister for Higher Education Zafar Iqbal Malik, while addressing the presser, said that for the first time in Azad Kashmir, the Higher Education Department has approved education under the Uniform Policy.
An education package worth Rs 766.4 million has been approved in ten districts of three divisions of AJK, he said.
Under the package, 726 new posts will be created under the Higher Education Department, including 356 posts in newly established colleges, 225 posts for the upgradation of colleges, and 142 posts in 142 existing institutions, which will incur a total expenditure of Rs 764.932 million.
A total of 09 new colleges will be established in three districts of Muzaffarabad division, worth Rs 187.5 million, and 162 new posts will be created.
Moreover, an amount of Rs 42.4 million has been approved for the upgradation of 06 institutions, and 43 posts have been created, while an amount of Rs 27.8 million has been approved for the creation of 30 additional posts in the existing institutions of Muzaffarabad division.
In addition, a total of seven new colleges will be established in four districts of the Poonch division, along with the creation of 126 new posts, totalling Rs 145.8 million. An amount of Rs 106.5 million has been approved for the upgradation of 14 institutions, and 104 posts will be created, while an amount of Rs 24 million has been approved for the creation of 30 additional posts in the existing institutions of the division.
The minister further said that a total of four colleges will be established in 13 districts of Mirpur division, worth Rs. 77.9 million, and 68 new posts will be created.
The cabinet has approved Rs 76.5 million for the upgradation of 11 institutions and creation of 81 posts, while Rs 66.7 million has been approved for the creation of 77 additional posts in the existing institutions of the division.
