An educational policy named ‘cluster school system’ has come under criticism in Balochistan Assembly. This policy was incorporated to decentralise powers from district-level officials to school-level administration. The headmasters were empowered to access school funds and utilise them with the consultation of a committee called Parent Teacher School Management Committee (PTSMC) – an official body tasked with overseeing the entire school system.
The essence of proper and transparent utilisation of the school funds revolves around the PTSMCs. Members of the committee are dutybound to keep an eye on allocation of funds for development of schools.
Previously, District Education Officers were authorised to purchase reading and writing materials for the hundreds of schools working within their jurisdictions, and it was witnessed that most of the schools used to be neglected during resource distributions.
Now, under this decentralised system, a high school being head of the cluster schools ensures that all the feeding primary and elementary schools get resources proportionate to their enrollment. It has been observed that schools, within their limited funds, do get reading and writing materials for a smooth learning process.
However, one could not turn a blind eye to the allegations of corruption by members of the provincial assembly. It has been noticed that auditors, firms and headmasters were feathering their nests by ignoring the rights of students. This all happens because of the so-called PTSMCs most of whose members are bogus.
The community is also oblivious to this system otherwise they could have presented themselves voluntarily to be members of the PTSMCs. It makes it easy for officials to commit corruption. Therefore, the government needs to appoint third-party evaluation teams to keep a check on the functioning of PTSMCs and utilisation of funds.
The supervision should be strict so that the mentioned system could work effectively. To alter this system completely without discussing the role of PTSMCs would badly affect the already fragile education system.
Muhammad Hussain Khosa
Sohbat Pur
