The government has shelved the free education scheme for girls within a year of its announcement.
Education minister AltafBukhari said girl students enrolled in government schools will be charged fee from now onward.
“The fee charged is very nominal and is utilised for small works in educational institutions,” Bukhari said.
Finance minister HaseebDrabu had in Budget 2016 announced fee waiver for girl students up to class 12.
To make up for the money educational institutions were set to lose because of the fee waiver, Drabu had stated the government will provide funds to the school education department.
“But till date no funds were released,” said a top official in school education department on the condition of anonymity.
He said high and higher secondary schools were the worst sufferers because of the fund crunch.
“The fee charged from students was utilised for upgradation of library and laboratory besides taking minor repairs of window panes and doors. But government provided no funds which were promised during the budget,” the official said.
Many high and higher secondary schools have already started charging the fee, about Rs 1300 per year, from girl students.