School education to get 35 per cent more, cess hiked to 3 per cent

New Delhi, Feb 28 (UNI) Giving an indication of the increasing realisation by the Government of the importance of education in the human development index, the 2007-08 budget enhances allocation for various branches of the sector, increasing the education cess from two to three per cent on all taxes in the process.

Besides, the government will award 100,000 scholarships to encourage students to continue their education beyond class eight.

The allocation for school education has been increased by about 35 per cent in the budget presented by Finance Minister P Chidambaram today.

Moreover, the provision for secondary education will be doubled from Rs 1,837 crore in the current financial year.

An additional cess of one per cent on all direct taxes has been levied to fund secondary and higher education. This would also be used towards expansion of capacity by 54 per cent for reservation for socially and educationally backward classes. The present two per cent education cess to fund basic education will also remain.

School education will get Rs 23, 142 crore as against Rs 17,133 crore given in the last budget. Out of this amount, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) would get Rs 10,671 crore.

To ensure improvement in the quality of education, Rs 450 crore will be spent on strengthening teachers training institutions.Last year, Rs 162 Crore were given for the purpose.

Besides 200,000 more teachers will be appointed and 500,000 more classrooms constructed.

The Mid-day Meal Scheme would be provided Rs.7,324 crore next year.

UNI