Maharashtra: Education Sector Sees 9.8% Budget Increase, But Concerns Arise Over Allocation Distribution & Flagship Scheme Cutbacks

The allocation for the education sector in the state’s interim budget 2024-25 has increased from last year’s Rs 87,314 crore to Rs 95,875 crore, a rise of 9.8 per cent.

However, there has been no increase in the share of education in the overall expenditure, which continues to be around 16 per cent.

While there was little in terms of new educational programmes and schemes announced in the election-year budget, presented by Finance Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday, both the school and higher education departments have seen an upward revision in their allocations. However, much of this hike has gone towards regular expenses, especially payment of salaries to school and college teachers and staffers, while spending on some of the flagship education schemes has been brought down.

A week after exempting private schools located in the vicinity of government schools from having to admit socio-economically weaker section students on 25 per cent of their seats, the state has cut down the budget for reimbursing schools for these admissions from Rs200 crore provided in the last budget to Rs 173 crore. The schools have complained that the state owes them Rs 2,400 crore.