KARACHI:
The education system in Sindh has long suffered from deficiencies and needs to be overhauled on an immediate basis. Most school buildings need to be refurbished as classrooms, labs, washrooms, and hallways are in frail conditions. In some cases, the buildings are a safety hazard. Due to both teacher and student absenteeism, many schools are instead used for agricultural activities i.e., rearing cows and buffaloes on school premises and storing agricultural machinery.
Despite the provincial government’s declaration of emergency in the education system, little has changed in terms of reforming the curriculum and teaching methods. Inexperienced teachers are hired and are not trained before undertaking lessons. Both old and new teachers are required to continue teaching outdated curricula and course books. Whilst a handful may resort to incorporating new methods and ideas on their own, most teachers do not have access to adequate resources. Some new teachers have shared the plight of the province’s education system on social media to draw the public’s attention and demand action from the relevant authorities.
Instead of addressing the teachers’ grievances, the provincial government blamed the teachers for poor educational standards because of widespread absenteeism. It failed to recognise that most schools have been forced to close because of a lack of funds and resources. The education department should work with institutes to address the problem effectively. Few crucial measures include hiring competent teachers, providing institutes with sufficient resources, training teachers, and ensuring strict compliance with policies. Also, students from low-income backgrounds should be offered free education. These measures will help produce talented and knowledgeable individuals who will contribute to the country’s growth and development.
Abdul Najeeb
Larkana
Published in The Express Tribune, August 16th, 2022.
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