Kampala — The Government has signed a 4m Euros (about sh11.6b) agreement with the Belgium government to support the education sector.

Finance minister Syda Bbumba and the Belgian ambassador, Marc Gedopt, signed the agreement on Monday at the ministry boardroom in Kampala.

Bbumba said the support was part of earlier agreements the Government had made with the Belgium minister of development cooperation, Charles Michael.

"In 2008, we signed a protocol which committed the Belgium government to provide 64m Euros. We are happy that its implementation has started" Bbumba said.

"This budget support is timely because the Government has been facing pressure to increase its allocation to the education sector," she said.

The minister said the Government was working to equip its human resource, especially the youth, with skills to make them competitive regionally and globally.

Gedopt said his government is committed to supporting the education and health sectors.

Ilahi Mansoor, the assistant commissioner in charge of technical education, said most of the funds will facilitate the directorate of industrial training.

Mansoor said the rest of the money will be spent on rehabilitating Mulago Tutors College, Abilonino Instructors School in Apac and Kaliro and Muni national teachers colleges.