There are 12 million children in Sindh between the ages of 5 and 16, of which 50 per cent are out of schools, says a report confirmed by provincial education department.
Drop outs were identified to be a major challenge as against 722,931 children enrolled in class 1 in government schools of the province, during the past five years or so, were found to dwindle to just 228,015 reaching class six.
This was cited to be a fall-off of almost half a million children. According to the education department officials, there are 6,164 non-functional and ghost schools in Sindh while 77 per cent of functional schools are deemed to be in an unsatisfactory condition in terms of infrastructure.
Learning outcomes in the province were also identified to be poor with 59 per cent of Class 5 students unable to read a story fluently in Urdu or Sindhi, while 71 per cent cannot perform simple two-digit division. Senior Minister for Education Nisar Khuhro commenting on the situation said the challenges in Sindh would not be overcome through documents or resolutions alone.
Addressing the “Sindh’s Promise to its Children,” document signing ceremony, hosted by Alif Ailaan, an NGO working for the cause of education, Khuhro said all political parties were on board vis-a-vis increased school enrolment, its retainment and improved quality of education in the province.
Appreciative of the presence of the senior representatives of no less than nine prominent political parties of the province, he said this demonstrated renewed attention to and focus on education in the province.
The coming months will reveal the seriousness of the Sindh government, said Khuhro, who is also the senior minister of Sindh.
He would propose a resolution based on this promise, he said, adding that the Sindh Assembly had already passed a unanimous resolution for 100 percent enrolment and improved quality of education in Sindh.
Politicians present on the occasion included leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly, Faisal Subzwari (MQM), Dr Arif Alvi (Pakistan Tehrik e Insaaf), Mahtab Akbar Rashdi (PML-F), Irfanullah Marwat (PML-N), Asif Baladi of Jeay Sindh Quami Mahaaz leader, Syed Ghulam Shah of Sindh United Party, Abrar Kazi of the Awami Jamhoori Party and Muhammad Hussain Mehenti of the Jamaat-e-Islaami.
PPP stalwart and former ambassador, Sherry Rehman and Members of the Sindh Assembly Sharmila Faruqi (PPP), Saman Jafri (MQM), Khurram Sher Zaman (PTI), Dr Seema Zia (PTI) also attended the event.
Stakeholder including parents, teachers and activists said the event demonstrated the power of leadership and the effectiveness of political engagement.
