KARACHI:
Last year, the Sindh government hired hundreds of well-qualified primary and junior elementary school teachers at government institutions to help improve education standards in the province. However, student absenteeism remains high and new enrolments remain low.
Many school buildings are in frail conditions with few classrooms that can be used. They lack necessary items such as blackboards, desks, chairs, etc. Most schools do not have proper administration either and the provincial education department has failed to monitor the activities of the schools. In some remote areas, school buildings are being used for agricultural activities. This shows that hiring teachers alone will not resolve the education crisis in Sindh. Teachers cannot be expected to teach in empty classrooms.
Therefore, the Sindh government must draw a strategy to bring students back to school. This can be done through awareness campaigns or by reimbursing or incentivising families to send their children to schools. School buildings should be refurbished and equipped with the necessary facilities to motivate both students and teachers to come to school. The curriculum should be updated to ensure that students receive a modern education and can perform well in exams and gain university admissions. More importantly, the education department should monitor and regulate the schools to root out any malpractices.
Mehak Ali
Guddu
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2023.
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