PESHAWAR, Sept 29: Participants of a discussion here on Thursday urged the provincial government to increase annual education budget 12 per cent to meet growing challenges in the sector.

They also demanded provision of free and compulsory education to children aged between five and 16 in line with the Constitution.

Institute of Social & Policy Science (I-SAP) had organised the discussion on 'Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's allocation for education for the current fiscal' at Peshawar Press Club.

Among participants was I-SAP Research Associate Naeem Sidu, who gave a presentation on the current situation of education in the province.

He said the government should prioritise education and set a comprehensive plan for education development until 2025.

He said situation of primary level education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was dismal due to poor funding.

Sidu said public sector educational institutions in the province had over 80 per cent enrollments but were without basic facilities.

He said education system would improve if bureaucracy paid attention to it. The researcher stressed the need for introducing a uniform education system in the country.

“Education system should be uniform. That is the only way to promote education and enhance its standard in the country,” he said.

Sidu shared the findings and facts of I-SAP report on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa education budget-2011-12 issues and way forward and said the provincial government was spending inadequate funds for development of primary education.

He said refresher training programmes for teachers were vital for improvement in education system.

The researcher, however, regretted that no such programmes were held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

President Peshawar Press Club Saiful Islam Saifi and a large number of journalists were also in attendance. —APP