According to a latest economic survey of Pakistan 2019, the literacy rate of Sindh has declined from 63% to 62.2%
DADU: Dr Mohammad Hanif, the chief metereologist of Pakistan, had informed that a prolonged severe cold wave would hit Pakistan with the break of the 2020 New Year. Following the forecast, the education department of Punjab and K-P extended the winter holidays till 7th of January. However, the education department of Sindh showed great courage by announcing the reopening of schools according to previous schedule. I would beg to ask the secretary education: in what capacity has he issued such decree for the reopening of schools? Did he do it in the capacity of a father, brother or uncle and his family and children did go to public schools during this extremely cold wave on foot, bicycle or motorbike with torn clothes and slippers as poor children do in Sindh? If yes, then he must be officially appreciated but if he announced the reopening of school and his family children did not even go to public school during such cold weather or they went in their private comfortable cars while being wrapped in imported warm clothes and shoes, then I would draw his kind attention to the fact that when it comes to education, Sindh has been outshined by all other provinces of Pakistan. Even Balochistan is ahead of Sindh. According to a latest economic survey of Pakistan 2019, the literacy rate of Sindh has declined from 63% to 62.2% while 37,705 schools are lacking basic facilities such as toilet, boundary wall, electricity and drinking water. Around 7,611 schools have no roof. Out of a total 49,103 schools, 12,136 schools have no teacher at all whereas 11,441 schools have no enrolment and the teachers of these 11,441 schools are taking their salaries for doing nothing. Above all, a 190 billion rupee budget was allocated for education in Sindh. One wonders if it was wasted or invested. We hope that the education department of Sindh becomes serious enough to improve education.
Mehboob Ali Laghari
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2020.
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