The state-run school system across Sindh, particularly in the interior areas of province, does not meet the required standards and needs to be revamped, said speakers at a seminar on Friday.
The provincial dialogue titled ‘Role of District Education Monitoring Committees for the Betterment of Schooling Facilities in Sindh’ was organised by the Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) Karachi and Hyderabad regional offices.
Provincial Prisons Minister Sadiq Memon said that the present schooling arrangement cannot deliver because there is an ineffective one-room multi grade teaching approach here.
“In the West, they are not in hurry to open new schools as we are doing here without planning and a rational approach,” he added.
Memon appreciated the way the SPO is carrying out its work, but pointed out that many other nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) are doing nothing much and receiving funds without any accountability.
“Such NGOs only invite ministers and their office-bearers have their pictures taken at various events,” he added.
Renowned educationist, development expert and chief of the Indus Resource Centre, Sadiqa Sallahuddin said that 80 percent of school facilities are available only on paper and in the shape of buildings, but there are gaps in the actual delivery of service.
“A community perception exists in the findings, showing that there is a lack of coordination between the government and community members. The government and those organisations working for promoting education do not own the ignored state-run primary schools. “Why are we not finding its solutions? Education is a human right that community members do not get,” she added.
“It is our responsibility to provide these educational facilities to each area. If the government does not have plans for this purpose, then the imitative needs to be taken through private partnerships,” she said.
“The inspection system for schools is old and it needs to be improved.”
The deputy secretary of the Sindh Education Department, Shahzeb said that the committees, which have collected these findings, should be expanded to other districts to point out issues so that he can address them through proper channels. “Community organisation members should coordinate with Education Department officials,” he added.
Education Monitoring Committee chairman of the defunct Matiari district, Qurban Ali Memon said that there is a misunderstanding among government functionaries regarding NGOs. “In Matiari, we arranged a meeting of SPO activists with the district coordination officer to discuss issues and find proper solutions. We thought that we can work together to achieve targets and help the communities,” he added.
Regional Programme Manager of the SPO Karachi, Ellahi Bakhsh Baloch shared the objectives of the event and said that his organisation focuses on the Local Government Ordinance 2001 in which it was decided to ensure community participation in all activities and interventions so that targets can be achieved.
Speaking about the survey conducted in Badin, Matiari and Tando Mohammad Khan districts, he said that the SPO tried to collect information at the community level to learn about the people’s education and health status.
“The SPO prefers to work with the local communities, legislators and other stakeholders to understand the status of primary schooling facilities in their respective districts and take the issues to proper forums. But unfortunately, they are not very active. We believe that without the participation of these communities, we cannot achieve targets,” he added.
SPO’s Hyderabad regional head, Ghulam Mustafa Baloch presented the findings of the survey conducted by SPO with the help of community organisations in Badin, Tando Mohammad Khan and Matiari.
He said that the survey shows unsatisfactory performance of the school staff, unnecessary political interference, limitation of resources and anarchy that has affected the role and performance of primary schools in the province.
The survey reveals a huge deficiency in required facilities including basic drinking water, toilets, teaching aids, furniture and fixture, etc, in schools.
According to the survey conducted by SPO, 206 units (45 government primary schools in Badin, 81 in Matiari and 80 in Tando Mohammad Khan) are housed in buildings owned by the Sindh government.
Washroom facility was available in the 140 (68 percent) units while the remaining 66 (32 percent) were without it.
Sixty percent washrooms were found in a somewhat useable condition, whereas the remaining 40 percent were out of order.
The survey revealed that drinking water facility was available in 107 (52 percent) units while the remaining 99 (48 percent) were without it.
The water available at the units was not fit for consumption. Playgrounds were available in 101 units (49 percent) but not maintained properly, while the remaining 106 (51 percent) were without one.
It was observed that 66 percent units had the minimum number of the required furniture. In the remaining 34 percent, there was no furniture for students and teachers.
Teaching aids were present in 43 percent units while in the remaining 57 percent units, there were none. It was observed that in 27 percent units, there was no power available, and where it was, there were not sufficient fixtures to meet the requirements of the school.
Only 62 percent units had non-teaching staff including caretakers and watchmen. The remaining 144 percent lacked this facility.
The teaching staff was absent in the most of the schools and the punctuality and attendance of those attending is also questionable.
‘Sindh’s state-run schools need to be revamped’
