PAKPATTAN: The Punjab government has decided to take over 378 colleges from the administrative control of the district governments from the next fiscal year and proposals for their development budget plans have been sent to the authorities concerned, source said.An agreement has been signed with the World Bank and most of the funds would be spent to improve college infrastructure. Colleges came under the direct administrative control of the district governments after introduction of reforms in the education sector, but policy formulation curriculum and other related issues remained a provincial subject.
At least 418,559 students are studying in 378 colleges, which have 15,853 teachers. The colleges were being ignored and the district government did not release enough funds to run the colleges. The drop out rate in the colleges had increased and the condition of the college buildings had become terrible. "No hiring of teachers and other staff was made during the past three years and 15 principals were removed for showing poor results," sources said.