The Education Department and the provincial government are fully committed to raising the Sindh Madressatul Islam College (SMIC)’s status to university level because the institution is the alma mater of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and so it deserves to be elevated to varsity status, Education Secretary Muhammad Siddique Memon said on Monday.
Memon was addressing the faculty, staff members and students of the SMIC at the Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Auditorium during his visit to the institution.
He said that the SMIC is a leading institution in the province, which is why the Sindh government is keenly interested in restoring its past glory by giving top priority to quality education and solving problems.
“The teachers at the SMIC are imparting quality education to the younger generation, but we must improve it with the passage of time,” he added.
He told the students that they must devote themselves to modern education because they have to lead the country in the future.
“It is an honour for me to visit the SMIC because this historic institution is known as a grand institution of the country,” the education secretary said.
Earlier in his welcome address, SMIC Principal Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh said that after the devolution of the Education Ministry under the 18th Amendment, the SMIC has been facing numerous problems.
However, all the problems – budget allocation, extension of 35 contract employees and nomination of deputy district officer – have been resolved due to the efforts of the chief minister, education minister, education secretary and other related functionaries of the provincial government, he said.
“The education secretary has assured us that all the remaining problems of the SMIC will be resolved on priority basis,” he added.
On the occasion, the education secretary visited the Jinnah Museum, Fine Arts Gallery and other important sections of the institution, whereas the SMIC principal also gave a presentation to the secretary on the past, present and future of the institution.
