KARACHI: Education is very essential sector for development, progress and prosperity of any nation while it is the endeavor of the present government to spread education in every nook and corner of the province.
This was stated by Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, while presiding over a meeting of Education Department Sindh here on Thursday.
The meeting held at CM House here reviewed Sindh Education Reform Programme.
It was also attended by Education Minister Sindh, Pir Mazharul Haq, Sindh Minister for Finance, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Sindh Information Minister Ms. Shazia Atta Marri, Secretary Education Sindh, Muhammad Siddique Memon, Secretary Finance Sindh and other senior officials.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah maintained that under the party programme and manifesto, 5-E Plan was initiated and prompt measures have been taken to implement the projects for increasing the literacy ratio in the province particularly in rural areas where literacy ratio is very low.
He stressed upon the officers of Education Department, teachers, parents, students, community people, NGOs and educated forums to come forward and play their role for maximizing the literacy ratio in real sense and make more efforts to bring prompt changes by adopting latest teaching techniques and learning methods.
On the occasion, Sindh Education Secretary, Muhammad Siddique Memon, in a presentation briefed about International Development Agency lending terms and continuity and sustainability of reforms.
He informed that under World Bank IDA credit, out of target amount of USD 350 million, there was disbursement release of USD 325 million while the disbursement of USD of 25 million is in pipeline.
He further said that the European Union grant, there was target amount of Euro 33 million, out of which Euro 25.50 million disbursements were released while the balance of Euro 7.50 million disbursement is in pipeline.
Secretary Education Sindh further informed the achievement of SERP under PPP government and said that 13,800 teachers have been recruited on need-cum-merit basis, tested by IBA and Sindh University, while 14,000 more teachers will be recruited soon.
He further informed that an amount of Rs. 100 million is being provided to each district, 650- shelterless schools are being facilitated with 2,600 class rooms and 5,000 lacking facilities, will be accommodated in the 4th phase.
He said that school management committees are being provided Rs. 1.1 billion per annum so as to strengthen community voice.
He said that 4.7 million sets of text books have been distributed free of cost among students of grade-I to grade XII. He said that new text books are being printed with review of curriculum while pilotings of Book Banks have been initiated in the province.
Besides, girl students of normal schools are being provided annual stipends of Rs: 2,400/= while girl students of differential with stipend of Rs: 3600/= is being provided, and so far as 3,31,000/= students benefitted in the year 2008 while 4,10,000 students were benefitted in the year 2010.
He added that Sindh Exam Commission is being initiated for students Achievement Testing for Grade V and VI, and students diagnostic assessment has been conducted for maths and language (Gr-IV), Social Science and Maths (Gr-VIII).
Secretary Education further informed that 450- low cost private schools have been provided subsidy, based on PPP model @ Rs:450/= per girl and Rs: 350/= per boy.
Muhammad Siddique Memon further said that for regulation of teachers education, Sindh Teachers Education Development Authority (STEDA) has been formed to impart new ADE / B.Ed. course.
He said that according to Education Management Refers, cluster based school Management and monitoring has been extended from 3 to 14- Tehsils.
Minister Education Pir Mazharul Haq informed that school consolidation policy has been launched to merge nearby schools into campus schools.
According to road map for future, he added that one million out of School children will be brought at Primary level, the enrolment of 0.9 million students of secondary schools will be doubled to 1.8 million and students achievement is expected increase of 15 to 25 percent.
Pir Mazharul Haq said that gender equity at primary and secondary level will be improved, through strong monitoring an devaluation frame- work, the result based accountability will be strengthened while sector Management will be strengthened through Medium Term Policy planning, financial management and donor coordination.
He said that there is expected annual expenditure of Rs. 9 billion for each year to protect reforms agenda.
He said that dialogue is going on with World Bank, European Union, FICA, DFID, UNICEF and CIDA.
The CM said that efforts will be made to negotiate with donor agencies for provision of funds on soft terms, while the Government of Sindh will make efforts to make provision and allocation of funds for furtherance of education in the province.
He appreciated the efforts of Sindh Education Department and hoped that vigilance and implementation of policies would be enhanced.
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