Stakeholders call for dedicated STEAM policy, budget in Sindh

KARACHI: Education stakeholders have called for a dedicated budget and a formal policy on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education in Sindh to move beyond annual science festivals and integrate practical, innovation-based learning into mainstream schooling.

The call was made at a STEAM Policy Dialogue organised by the School Education and Literacy Department (SE&LD), through its Reform Support Unit (RSU), in collaboration with the Thar Education Alliance (TEA). The dialogue aimed to examine how STEAM activities, initiated in 2017, could be translated into sustained classroom learning, institutional support and wider opportunities for students.

The dialogue brought together education officials, students, teachers, experts and representatives of science organisations to discuss gaps in school facilities, teacher capacity, curriculum integration and collaboration between educational institutions, government and industry.

Participants stressed that science festivals alone were not enough to build a lasting culture of scientific inquiry. They called for dedicated funding, a provincial STEAM policy and a coordinated science ecosystem that would enable students to engage in practical learning throughout the academic year. They also emphasised the need to provide students with exposure and opportunities at district, regional, provincial, national and international levels.

Teachers highlighted the shortage of facilities and resources needed to conduct science-related activities in schools, while students and experts shared their perspectives on making STEAM learning more accessible, relevant and engaging. Representatives of science organisations also discussed the importance of stronger institutional collaboration to support innovation and experimentation.

Secretary Education Zahid Ali Abbasi said the public-private partnership model was effective in expanding educational opportunities and highlighted the pivotal role played by children from Sindh at the Islamabad Science Festival. He assured participants of the department’s support for STEAM initiatives and welcomed suggestions from stakeholders to strengthen science education.

The dialogue highlighted the need to translate the experience gained through science festivals into a long-term framework backed by policy, budgetary allocations, trained teachers and school-level resources, enabling students across Sindh to develop scientific thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills.

In conclusion, a ceremony was also held to distribute Gauth AI subscriptions among the students and teachers who participated in the Islamabad Science Festival. Secretary Education Zahid Ali Abbasi and Campaignistan CEO Farhad Jarral presented three-year Gauth AI subscriptions to the festival’s winners, while participating students and teachers received annual subscriptions to support their learning, research and exploration of science and technology.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026