Sindh govt, USAID sign $155m MoU

With an aim to rehabilitate around 1,500 schools badly damaged by the monsoon rains in 2011, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) would provide funds $155 million to the Sindh government so that the educational activities could be restarted properly in the affected districts, it has been learnt reliably.
In this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the USAID and the Sindh government at Sindh Secretariat on Tuesday. Deputy Mission Director US Agency for International Development (USAID) Edward Birgells and Secretary Education Mukhtiar Hussain Soomro signed the MoU, which was also witnessed by Senior Sindh Minister for Education Pir Mazharul Haq.
Under the agreement, the primary and secondary schools of southern districts – Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Umerkot and Tando Allahyar would be rehabilitated by the USAID while the Sindh education department would oversee the rehabilitation process. The education and literacy department is identifying and prioritizing the schools in coordination with USAID that will receive USAID support under the agreement.
The senior minister appreciated the continued assistance of USAID in education sector. The senior minister informed that USAID-assisted Sindh Basic Education Program has been approved by Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) and implementation of the program will begin soon. Sindh Basic Education Program is USD 165 million program of which USD 155 million grant has been provided by the USAID. The program will improve access and quality of education in Sindh.
Edward Birgells, on signing the MOU, stated that “USAID’s education program is providing Pakistani children the opportunity to study with well-qualified teachers in environments conducive to learning.
The repair of flood damaged schools in Sindh province will increase and sustain student enrollment in primary and middle schools. Education supports students’ future job prospects, Pakistan’s economic development and is a key ingredient in building a strong civil society and democracy,” according to a press release issued by the US Consulate Karachi.
Well-placed sources told Pakistan Today the USAID was providing the Sindh government a total of $155 million to support the education sector in Sindh under the Sindh Basic Education program.
Under the said programme, the flood-affected schools would be reconstructed in various districts of the province. The Sindh education program will also support in enhancing reading literacy in schools, alleviating malnourishment in children and provide technical assistance to departments in order to increase their capacity, sources added.
By providing the funds, the USAID would use its own contractors to monitor and supervise the utilization of funds. Besides, the contractors will also be hired by USAID.
The education and literacy department would just identify schools for rehabilitation and USAID will do the site inspection before taking up schools for rehabilitation.
The break-up of US-aid funding $ 155million is as follows: Reconstruction of schools affected by floods $51million; support for the government of Sindhs’ policies to consolidate and upgrade schools $30 million; improved early grade reading in primary schools $30 million; community mobilization $20 million; technical assistance to the department of education $6 million; monitoring and evaluation $4 million; office of infrastructure and engineering $14 million, the sources said.