HYDERABAD, April 5: Sindh Minister for Education Dr Hameeda Khuhro has made it clear that it is compulsory for Urdu-speaking students of class XI to appear in simple Sindhi paper from the current year.

Talking to journalists at the students’ convention-2006 at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, on Wednesday, she said there should be no confusion on the issue and educational boards had been issued clear instructions in this regard.

Answering a question about banning teachers’ organizations, she said the matter was under consideration of the government. She said the government had no intension to ban teachers’ organizations but it had been experienced during the last two years that teachers had been creating hurdles in the educational process by resorting to strikes and, instead of teaching students, they were serving elsewhere too. She said that under these circumstances and in the interest of education, some measures had become inevitable.

She conceded that delay was being experienced in appointment of teachers but said that most of bottlenecks had been removed and appointments would be made on the basis of merit soon after the chief minister lifted the ban on employment.

She made it clear that those who were taking salaries without performing duties would be made accountable.

Dr Khuhro said a programme had been chalked out to repair school buildings which were in dilapidated condition and added that reports had been called from all districts about such buildings. She said funds were available and work on the project would begin soon.

Meanwhile, speaking as chief guest at the students’ convention, the minister said such conventions were necessary to develop understanding among the youth.

A total of 120 students from different public and private sector universities of the province are participating in the two-day convention organized the University of Sindh in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission.

Dr Khuhro said the convention was a chain of students’ conventions being organized all over the country.

She congratulated the University of Sindh for organizing the convention and also praised vice-chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqui for his achievements in the field of higher education and development of the university.

She said every one was aware of the fact that educational institutions in the country, especially in Sindh, had not come up to expectations of people. She, however, expressed confidence in the youth and said they were talented and deserved rightful place in the society.

The themes of the convention were “Peace and stability leads to economic progress, education and human resources development can reduce poverty” and “Religious tolerance is necessary for development of a society and progress”.