Educationists working on promoting education on Thursday called upon the government to bridge the gap between urban and rural areas, providing village schools children equal opportunities so they may show their talent in both learning in class and taking part in other healthy activities.
They were speaking at a day-long Dosti sports event, which attracted more than 300 students of government primary schools of nine villages in Tando Muhammad Khan district.
The event jointly organised by Sindh Community Foundation (SCF), British Council, Islamabad and School of Leadership Foundation (SOLF) Karachi, aiming to encourage government schools children, providing the students such opportunities and help in reducing dropout rate among school children and increase enrolment.
Muddasir Hafeez, co-ordinator of British Council lauded the initiative of teachers of rural area schools, locally volunteer in the field of education known as ambassadors and organisers of the event for organizing such a successful event. He said these children have great potential to compete those students learning in private sector educational institutes, but they need patronage and encouragement at every level.
He said there is need of providing opportunities to these rural children, organizing sports festival and other activities, where they can show their capacity.
Javed Hussain, executive director SCF claims to have saved future of 4,500 children by bringing them back to school as they had left schools for various reasons. He said they have initiated a mobilisation campaign with parents, education department officials and local teachers for increasing enrolment and now these children have joined their educational institutes after gap, as they had left their schools. He said this event is a valid evidence of achievement, saying now they are working to achieve target of bringing back at least 1500 more children to schools soon. He urged that provision of games promotes sprit of children to attend the school regularly and also improve their confidence.
Javed said Tando Muhammad Khan district was declared the lowest in rating on education in the all districts of Pakistan. But the organisers of this Dosti sports event were looking enthusiastic to improve its status by ensuring schools are running properly, children are coming regularly and teachers are punctual.
He said providing trainings to government school teachers, arrange meetings with parents and educational department officials and district administration have supported in this success.