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Foundation Assisted Schools
(PEF-FAS)
| Introduction
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Although
education up to secondary level in public sector is free now.
Educational institutions and students in primary grades of government
schools are provided free textbooks but even low income households
prefer to send their children to private schools, which have
come to be identified with a measure of quality education. In
urban areas where the social demand for education is strong,
private educational institutions thrive, accounting for close
to 50% of enrollment.
The rapid
growth of private educational institutions catering to less
affluent segments of the population, particularly in katchi
abadis/slums, is partly attributable to the lack of government
owned land for establishing publicly managed schools, government
policies that are biased in favour of rural areas and weak political
commitment to education which has resulted in under-funding
of physical infrastructure and non-salary critical complementary
inputs in the public schooling system. The fee structure of
such private educational institutions in remote rural areas
and marginalized urban areas attended by the students from poorer
and less affluent households generally ranges from Rs.50 to
Rs.300. These schools are marked by poor infrastructure and
low paid teachers. These levels of fees are unaffordable for
the less privileged sections of society whose quest for decent
quality education of their wards remains largely unaddressed
by the public sector.
The Punjab
Education Foundation (PEF) has been restructured as an autonomous
organization to support the efforts of the private sector in
providing education to poor households. The PEF has been assigned
the statutory responsibility to promote education in such private
educational institutions by establishing and nurturing Public
Private Partnerships.
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1. The Contours of the Scheme |
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PEF—FAS
is the flagship program of the Punjab Education Foundation to
encourage and promote access to, and improve the quality of
education. PEF has demonstrated that through public private
partnership, better quality education can be provided at much
less cost as compared to the cost by the Government of Punjab
to educate a child at the primary level in the public schooling
system. The financial assistance on per child enrollment basis
(PEF-FAS) is driven by considerations of equity and access to
all.
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1.1 |
For the current financial year (2005-06), the PEF made a budgetary
allocation of Rs.70 million for the financial assistance of private
schools in less affluent areas on a per child enrolled basis.
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1.2 |
The implementation of the model proposed below helped finalize: |
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a) |
The design of the instrument; |
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b) |
The modalities
and mechanisms for distributing funds; |
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c) |
The institutional
arrangements for the selection of eligible institutions; |
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d) |
The flow
of funds for institutions qualifying for support; and |
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e) |
Arrangements
for testing, monitoring and evaluation of the installed systems
and the performance of these schools. |
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1.3 |
The target schools under PEF-FAS are those charging up to a maximum
of Rs.300 per month as tuition fees and related/allied charges
(excluding actual board examination fee). The financial assistance
on per child enrollment basis, provided by PEF cannot be spent
on office building or anything else except the
promotion of education i.e. salaries of teachers, development
of teaching material, Library, Classrooms, Furniture, Laboratory,
purchase of science equipment etc. There
would be ceilings on management cost as a proportion of total
expenditure on the running of the school. The recipient educational
institution will indicate the management cost and the expenditure
on the management cost will be part of terms of partnership. The
delivery of quality education will be the most significant variable
for financial assistance by PEF. The Quality Assurance Tests will
be the chief determinant for the continuation of partnership agreement.
The
financial assistance to the recipient institution will be discontinued
in case the school does not meet the quality standards set by
the PEF. It will be mandatory that the 2/3rd students of the partner
school under PEF-FAS must pass the quality assurance test, with
at least 40% marks, for continuation of partnership. |
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1.4 |
For the purpose of
budgetary allocations, preference will be given to districts with
lower rates of literacy. The Punjab Economic Research Institute’s
(PERI) ranking of districts on the basis of backwardness, Multiple
Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS, 2003-4) are used in the determination
of the PFC Award by the Government of Punjab, will be adopted
for the distribution of funds by allotting appropriate weights.
The following weights were approved by the Board of Directors,
with some additional weight allotted to districts with literacy
rates lower than the provincial average: |
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a) |
60% of
the total allocation will be on the basis of population. |
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b) |
40% of
the total allocation will be on the basis of backwardness. |
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1.5 |
Board approved the
following districts for financial assistance by the PEF on per
child enrolled basis. |
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1 |
Lahore |
2 |
Khushab |
3 |
Bahawalpur |
4 |
Chakwal |
5 |
Sialkot |
6 |
Bahawalnagar |
7 |
Gujrat |
8 |
Narowal |
9 |
Bhakkar |
10 |
Mianwali |
11 |
Muzaffargarh |
12 |
Nankana Sahib |
13 |
Jhang |
14 |
Lodhran |
15 |
Multan
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16 |
Rajanpur
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17. |
Sheikhupura
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1.6 |
Within these districts,
the inter-district distribution/allocation formula for PEF—FAS
has been as under:- |
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a) |
Rural Areas 60% |
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b) |
Urban Areas 40%
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1.7 |
The following two
proposal were made for financial assistance on per child enrollment
basis. |
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1. |
Financial
assistance to the existing schools on the basis of per child enrolled. |
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2. |
Financial
assistance for opening new private educational institutions on
the basis of per child enrolled. |
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2. Assistance to the Private Educational Institutions on Per Child
Enrolled |
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Basis and Criteria for Selection |
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The PEF
shall pick up the fee component of selected private educational
institutions and make education free for children enrolled in
the recipient institutions. After entering into
terms of partnership with the Foundation under PEF-FAS,
the recipient school/educational institution shall not be charging
anything in any form from the students i.e. fines, recreation,
books fee. stationery or anything else.
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2.1 The following methodology
may be adopted for selecting the private educational
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institutions:
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A well-drafted advertisement setting out the details/criteria
of the scheme through electronic and print media inviting applications
from individuals/institutions/NGOs/private educational institutions
and trusts for financial assistance on the basis of per child
enrolled;
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PEF may also make efforts to identify quality educational institutions
charging fees up to a maximum of Rs.300 and offer them similar
support;
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In response to the advertisement, the eligible private educational
institutions may apply to the Punjab Education Foundation. |
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The educational institution may apply directly to the PEF at 19
Ahmad Block, Garden Town Lahore. |
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The application form designed
by PEF will require the educational institutions to certify the
strength/enrollment with class distribution, the level of the
educational institution i.e. primary, elementary, secondary or
secondary level, the teachers and their qualifications and the
level of fees charged. The Foundation will physically verify the
information any time without prior notice. |
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Academic Development Unit (ADU) has been established in PEF Secretariat.
Initially five Subject Specialists have been appointed in Mathematics,
Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English. The ADU is responsible
for Cluster Based Training in Public Private Partnership (CBT-PPP)
in the districts where partner organizations are not available,
development of testing manuals of the syllabus of Punjab Text
Book Board, Oxford etc for QAT and administration of quality tests
to the students of Foundation Assisted Schools (FAS) on quarterly/six
monthly basis. |
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The following committee will finally carry out the sorting and
scrutiny of the applications under PEF—FAS: |
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Managing Director |
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Deputy Managing Directors |
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Any other Officer/Director nominated by the Board |
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Before entering into
Agreement/Terms of Partnership with a particular school/educational
institution for the purposes of financial support, PEF will carry
out an inspection to ascertain the suitability of the school according
to the approved criteria.
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The format of the Quarterly Enrollment
Report has been finalized by the Punjab Education
Foundation which will require reporting on enrollment levels of
the recipient educational institutions.
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If enrollment has increased or decreased by 10% or more during
the period since the last review and verification of the level
of enrollment then the financial assistance to the school will
be revised for the subsequent period;
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2.2 Criteria for Selection of Institution:
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1) |
Minimum enrollment of 100 and maximum of 750.
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2) |
Location of the private educational institutions in the districts:
Lahore, Khushab, Bahawalpur, Chakwal, Sialkot, Bahawalnagar, Narowal,
Gujrat, Bhakkar and Mianwali.
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3) |
Charging fees up to a maximum of Rs.300 per month.
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4) |
Geographic location of the schools in rural/slums/backwards areas.
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5) |
Physical infrastructure of schools in terms of building, classrooms,
library and laboratories (in case of elementary and secondary
schools) should be hygienic, congenial and conducive.
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6) |
The school should have qualified and experienced faculty.
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7) |
The students of the short listed schools will be administered
a skill-based test in English, Urdu and Mathematics before entering
into partnership agreement.
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8) |
Girls’ education is the top priority and partnership with girls’
school under PEF-FAS will be encouraged.
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2.3 Terms of Partnership:
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Punjab Education Foundation will enter into a formal
Agreement/Terms of Partnership with the private educational
institutions, for providing financial assistance on the basis
of per child enrolled, on the following terms and conditions: |
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a) |
The school must register with the District Registration Authority
within a period of one year after entering into partnership with
the Punjab Education Foundation. In case of failure, PEF may discontinue
the financial assistance. |
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b) |
In case of any difficulty in registration, PEF will assist the
recipient educational institutions for registration purposes. |
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c) |
The recipient educational institution will display on its main
gate and on its official notice board that the PEF is sponsoring
the full fee payment of all children enrolled. The
format of display will be provided by Punjab Education Foundation.
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d) |
The financial assistance per child will be Rs.300 to cover tuition
fees and related/allied charges. |
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e) |
The recipient educational institution shall not charge anything
in any form from any of the students or their parents after entering
into partnership under PEF-FAS. In case an educational institution
makes any violation, PEF reserves the right to withdraw its financial
support and cancel the agreement. |
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f) |
The recipient educational institution will give unrestricted access
to the officers/ADU and representatives of the Punjab Education
Foundation to check enrollment, attendance, physical facilities
and infrastructure and to conduct Quality Assurance Tests (QAT)
to check learning outcomes and quality standards. |
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g) |
Punjab Education Foundation could also consider incentives for
school or staff for impressive performance of students in the
evaluative tests conducted by ADU. |
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h) |
There would be ceilings on management cost as a proportion of
total expenditure on the running of the school. The recipient
educational institution will indicate the management cost and
the expenditures on the management cost will be part of terms
of partnership. The financial assistance by Punjab Education Foundation
under PEF-FAS will not be spent on office building by the recipient
educational institution. The financial assistance will only be
spent for the promotion of quality education in the shape of teacher’s
salary, purchase of science equipment, development of teaching
material, raising infrastructure, library, laboratory and additional
class rooms etc. |
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i) |
Two-Thirds (2/3rd) number of the students of the partner educational
institution must secure at least 40% marks for continuation of
the partnership. The financial assistance to the recipient institution
will be discontinued in case the school does not meet the quality
standards set by the PEF. |
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2.4 Performance Indicators:
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The following
will be the performance indicators of the recipient educational
institution in addition to the obligations mentioned above:
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The enrollment of the educational institution.
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The conducive, congenial respect and enabling teaching-learning
environment with positive externalities in the institution.
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Acceptable student learning outcomes with at least 40%
marks in the quality assurance tests administered by PEF-ADU.
Two-Thirds (2/3rd) of the total number of the students
of the partner educational institution must secure at
least 40% marks for continuation of the partnership.
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3. Mode of Payment |
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Payments
will be made to the institution by PEF through crossed cheques.
The financial assistance for the subsequent year will be conditional
upon the school meeting minimum quality standards. The Board
may decide the provision of financial assistance on quarterly
basis.
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4. Quality Assurance Test (QAT) |
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QAT will be the critical chief determinant for continuing
financial assistance to an educational institution.
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QAT could use the tests for different grades developed by
ADU. |
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The personnel in the PEF to be assigned to each educational
institution to administer these tests will be deputed by
Academic Development Unit (ADU) on rotational basis.
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It will be ensured that no examiner goes to a particular
school more than once in three years.
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The ADU will ensure that the processes of the examination
system are secure and transparent. Absolute fairness, impartiality
and professionalism will be the hallmark of QAT.
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The recipient educational institution will have to ensure
an overall average score of 40% (with a further proviso
that 2/3rd of the students of the class being tested should
score above 40%) to qualify for continuing financial assistance
under PEF—FAS.
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In the event that an educational institution fails to meet
the minimum benchmark mentioned above, the financial assistance
will be discontinued forthwith.
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© Copyright Punjab Education
Foundation 1991-2008
All rights reserved®
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