THIS is with reference to the report “Sindh government to close 5,000 ‘unviable’ schools: minister” (Nov 14). The criterion to decide which of the schools happen to be ‘unviable’ is not shared. It is not clear if there are no children in areas where these school buildings exist or the government is unable to post teachers and provide the due facilities there, or the schools are just considered ‘unviable’ as they are non-functional for long.

I would share the ordeal of one of the ‘officially closed’ government schools, the GBPS Muhammad Paryal Mahar in Fateh Tando union council of Shikarpur district’s Lakhi taluka, which was established in 1957. The said school is located in remote riverine area near Shah Belo forest that is infamous on two counts; a hideout of dacoits and for frequent tribal disputes.

The said school has been officially closed for years. One of the main reasons for its closure was that no teachers and staff had been posted. There is no public or private post-primary education facility within a radius of 7km.

Initially, the classes were started at the school in a makeshift, dilapidated structure. Later, two rooms were constructed in the 1980s that are now in a poor shape. After repeated requests by the community, one teacher was posted on a permanent basis. As a result, grade I examinations were held in 2014, and the enrollment subsequently increased to 450.

The education authorities were continuously approached through letters and personal visits for the provision of teachers, a building for the school and for upgrading it from primary to secondary. However, there was no response. This is despite the fact that assurance in writing was given to the education department that land would be provided for the school free of cost. It was decided that until government teachers are posted, a brother of this writer living abroad would bear the salaries of three teachers hired from the private sector.

These teachers were also provided motorbikes with fuel to attend school. The donor family’s autaq was also used to run the classes until the building was provided by the government.

The quality of education of this school is well known in the area as 37 students — 31 boys and six girls — were selected for the Sindh School Education Scholarship Programme (SSESP) within three years, which is more than 50 per cent of the total reserved seats for all government schools of Shikarpur. The head teacher was awarded an appreciation certificate during a ceremony in Karachi.

Currently, classes are being held partly in a veranda of an autaq, a car porch, under the trees and in the open. There is only one washroom for boys, girls, teachers and autaq visitors. The classes are conducted by six teachers; three provided by the government and the rest hired from the private sector.

Recently, two separate schemes each for the repair of two rooms by the education department, and rehabilitation of the school by district administration of Shikarpur were approved and work started, but both schemes remain incomplete as relevant funds have not been released.

Most students discontinue their studies as there is no post-primary facility around. Lack of washrooms poses a serious problem, particularly for the girls, and is a major reason behind absenteeism. The girl students continue to drop out of school after class III due to socio-cultural reasons.

If the government upgrades this school from primary to secondary, provides teaching and non-teaching staff, proper classrooms, washrooms, furniture, safe drinking water, lights, electricity through solar energy and a boundary wall, it will be a great service.

The education department, before deciding to close down schools, should send its officials to visit each school. After all, it is easy to close a school, but extremely difficult to start and run a new one.

Ghulam Muhammad Mahar
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2022