Dismal Condition Of Primary Schools
KARACHI:July 2:Sindh Minister for Education and Literacy, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has suspended drawing and disbursement powers of primary school funds of all the assistant district education officers (ADEOs) throughout the province.
Khuhro said he had sought report of utilisation of funds by ADEOs within a week. At the same time, he added, the ADEOs have also been asked to submit a profile report for next six months.
The powers of ADEOs have been suspended till they submit reports regarding utilisation of school specific funding in their respective areas.
The minister took first administrative step regarding utilization of primary schools funding after taking notice of poor conditions of government primary schools in the province.
The ADEOs are given around Rs 350,000 per school every six month on account of School Specific Funding but at least 24,000 primary schools still lack even drinking water facility.
Speaking at his first news conference on Monday after taking over charge of the Education Department, Khuhro said the government had released an amount of Rs660 million for 1,400 primary schools of the province on account of SSF. Besides primary schools are being given separate funds on account of School Management Committees (SMCs).
Despite the Sindh government spending billions of rupees for education sector every year, the appalling condition is public sector schools are worrisome. According to the minister, some 24,000 primary schools were still without electricity, 19,000 without a boundary wall, 20,000 without facility of wash rooms, and 8,280 schools are still shelter less.
Khuhro said he would begin his work from primary schools as these were the major components of the public sector education in the province standing at 91 percent. Sharing figures, he said the total strength of primary schools in the province was 44,522.
Expressing his disappointment, the minister said drinking water could have been provided in 24,000 primary schools by installing water hand pumps. According to him, the officers had given excuse that the hand pumps were not installed due to non-availability of potable underground water in these areas. They could have arranged small water tanks as an alternate arrangement, he added.
Khuhro said he had asked the concerned officers to provide drinking water facility in these schools during current summer vacation. At the same time, he added, they had also been directed to ensure tree plantation in shelter less schools.
He also sought data of schools which are non-functional and occupied by local land lords.
He said the current literacy rate in the province was 59 percent, while Education Department had to meet target of providing free primary education to 88 percent of children aged five to 15 by 2015. He said efforts efforts would be made to meet the target despite difficulties and poor conditions on the ground.
When his attention was drawn towards mismanagement and corruption experienced during the tenure of PPP minister Pir Mazharul Haq, he said he was not responsible for wrongdoings made by any other person. He has planned to establish O and A level schools and Danish Schools in every district of the province.
He said he also planned to install a satellite system in every school to monitor attendance of teachers.Daily Times
