Budget 2015: Government's move to upgrade schools a positive one, says Shantanu Prakash, Educomp

NEW DELHI: Ministry of Corporate Affairs will get a higher budgetary allocation of nearly Rs 272 crore in the next financial year with a substantial increase going towards the non-plan component.
The allocation for next fiscal is nearly 7 per cent higher than what was provided for the current financial year ending March 31.

Shantanu Prakash, CMD of Educomp says, "We welcome the budget announcements by Finance Minister today. We are happy that the government has addressed the need to upgrade over 80,000 secondary schools and add or upgrade 75,000 junior/middle, to the senior secondary level. Such steps would effectively enable more children to attend schools and be part of the country's growth story. The emphasis on the national skills mission, the launch of welfare scheme 'Nayi Manzil' and easier loans for higher education are all steps in the right direction and hold promise for the immediate and long term."

"However, we are disappointed that the persistent and legitimate demand from the education sector to exempt schools from service tax on outsourced services has not been met. This will certainly increase the burden on parents across the spectrum," added Prakash.