The European Commission has announced 39 million euros assistance for Sindh Education Programme. This was revealed in the first meeting of core group formed to prepare the Sindh Education Programme, held under the chairmanship of Provincial Education Minister Dr Hameeda Khuhro.
The meeting was attended by Nazim Karachi Naimatullah Khan, District Nazims Dr Rafiquzzaman, Nafisa Shah, Syed Nasir Shah, Shabbir Ahmed Bijarani along with acting Nazim Larkana, Nazir Bughio, former Minister Anita Ghulam Ali besides representatives of World Bank, European Commission, USAID, Asian Development Bank and senior officials of concerned departments.
Dr Hameeda Khuhro said that besides participation of international organisations for improvement in the quality of education in Sindh, the existing liaison between Provincial and District governments will have to be improved along with developing a sound monitoring system.
She pointed out that condition of education sector in Sindh is in a bad shape and its improvement needs a comprehensive planning for which all of us will have to make collective efforts.
The Minister said that teachers have to be induced to perform their duties and there is need to maintain strict check on the working of schools.
She appealed the international organisations to come forward had an appraisal about the problems faced to education department here and not only take part in consultations for planning but also provide guidance so that desired objectives could be achieved.
She pointed out that recruitment of lecturers made recently has not been fully annulled, but inquiries are being carried out on complaints from wherever received. She said the lecturers who have been issued orders, are not being barred from posting.
Dr Hameeda announced that besides ensuring the attendance of children in schools, a system of vigilance is also being initiated to make teachers duty bound and she herself will make surprise checks.
On the occasion provincial Education Secretary Ghulam Ali Pasha briefed the meeting and said the purpose of Core Group is to develop Sindh Vision for raising the standard of education in every district as well as literacy rate, to control the number of non school-going children. He identified some of the problems as gender discrimination, urban-rural divide, lacking administrative and training capabilities in teachers and the gap between people and education department.
He pointed out that private sector was not paying attention on education in rural areas while the number of shelterless schools was about 1/3rd. He said a large number of schools are closed while teachers are not trained. The standard of higher education was not so good.
He described weak political commitment, non-availability of required funds for education etc as some of the causes for decline in education.
On the occasion the educational experts of international financial institutions, expressed their reservations regarding participation of helping organisations.
The Education Minister said that Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has given his first priority to promotion of education.
The terms of reference as prepared by the Core Group for "Sindh Vision" includes the analysis of existing educational priorities, identification of weaknesses in education sector and proposals for their removal, short, medium and long term planning and implementation of proposals thereof. For this purpose, three thematic groups have been formed.
It was decided that Sindh Education Programme and Sindh Vision would be given final shape in the light of recommendations of Core Group by September 2004.
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