KARACHI: Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday instructed the education department to ensure distribution of 4,453,686 textbooks by Aug 14 and enhance education standards.

“The school education department must enhance enrolment by bringing out-of-school children to school and introduce a school inspection system by checking teaching and learning methods,” he said while presiding over a meeting of the education department at the CM House.

The CM said that schools would reopen on Aug 15, therefore, the school education department should make necessary preparations to ensure proper functioning of the schools, distribution of textbooks and running of classes. He also emphasised the need for a complete plan for the academic year, including a work plan and preliminary/mock examinations.

During a presentation to the CM, the education minister said that there were 40,991 schools in Sindh, including 36,203 primary schools, 15,575 middle, 1,051 elementary, 1,670 secondary and 492 higher secondary ones.

He said the province had 160,473 teachers, including 107,550 males and 53,051 females. “The total enrollment in schools was reported as 5,236,307, comprising 3,081,696 boys and 2,154,611 girls,” he added.

The CM noted that the teacher-student ratio stood at 1:32 and emphasised the need for quality teaching and engagement of students in curriculum activities.

An issue was discussed regarding the lack of communication and teaching skills among most of the teachers. It was proposed that teachers should be required to pass a teaching test every five years in order to continue their teaching careers.

Furthermore, the CM directed the education department to take measures to improve the education standard by introducing an inspection system.

He stressed the importance of officials visiting schools, checking the teaching and learning procedures and submitting inspection reports to address any shortcomings.

Highlighting the government’s investment in good salary packages for teachers, the Mr Shah urged for a focus on the quality of teaching and the teachers’ dedication to shaping the future of students. He emphasised the need for adaptability and continuous evaluation of teaching methods for the benefit of the students.

The CM directed the education department to start distribution of the books and complete the process by Aug 14 so that the students could have learning material ready by the start of their academic session.

Rehabilitation of schools

The education minister told the CM that 19,808 schools needed to be rehabilitated. Mr Shah said the rehabilitation of 4,206 school buildings had been taken up in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and the provincial government had worked out a three-year plan to overhaul the remaining damaged school buildings.

Sardar Shah said that 5,159 shelter-less schools needed to be made sheltered.

The chief minister said that the issue of 5,159 shelter-less schools was being looked after. “So far 282 shelter-less schools have been taken up in the ADP for construction of their buildings,” he said, adding that the remaining buildings would be built through the education department.

The education minister said he was working to upgrade 36,203 primary schools to post-primary level as approved by the chief minister.

He added that so far the school education department had upgraded 1,239 primary schools to the post-primary level.

The CM directed the education minister to upgrade all primary schools to the elementary level gradually so that the number of dropouts could be reduced.

Freeship in private schools

The education minister told the CM that inspection committees had been formed for the implementation of a 10 per cent freeship in private schools and added that registration and renewal of registration of more than 50 schools had been withheld due to non-compliance with the above act.

Sardar Shah said that a complaint-redressal center had been established at the directorate level. “The education department has issued instructions to private schools to teach language subjects — Sindhi and Urdu,” he added.

The education minister said the director general of the Benazir Income Support Programme had also been requested to provide data on deserving families whose children were studying in privately-managed schools. “All private schools have been directed to establish school management committees (SMCs),” he added.

The CM directed the education department to launch awareness campaigns on media platforms /social media and the official website regarding the availability of freeship policies in the province, and in that regard circulars and letters be issued to all privately-managed schools.

Among others, the meeting was attended by Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah, MPA Seema Khurram, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Principal Secretary to CM Agha Wasif, Education Secretary Zahid Abbasi, College Secretary Asif Ikram, Finance Secretary Fayaz Jatoi and Sindh Textbook Board Chairman Aleem Lashari.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2024