Judicial officers to inspect govt schools, collect record of funds

Records of 10 years’ funds allocated to the education dept will be examined by the SHC

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has deputed judicial officers in different districts to carry out inspections of government schools, including those lying non-functional, and collect details of the School Management Committee (SMC) funds allocated to the education department in the last 10 years.

Sources told The Express Tribune on Wednesday that these directives were issued by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh to the district and sessions judges of Larkana, Khairpur, Kashmore, Kamber Shahdadkot, Tharparkar, Dadu, Badin and Ghotki.

The top provincial judge passed these directives after taking notice of media reports regarding locking of the schools’ premises, dilapidated conditions of the premises, lack of teaching and other facilities in Khanpur Mehar, Mithi and other areas of district Tharparkar, Ratodero, Kachho, Kamber Shahdadkot, Chalhar, Badin, Kashmore and other towns in the province.

The sources said CJ Sheikh had directed the judicial officers concerned to carry out inspection of such schools along with the deputy commissioners and district education officers. They were told to prepare their reports regarding the conditions of the buildings, utilisation of the SMC funds, the budget allocations for construction and any maintenance or repairs in the last 10 years.



They will collect details regarding shortage of teachers and their attendance, scarcity of drinking water, non-availability of furniture and stagnant rainwater that had not yet been pumped out of the premises and other issues that require immediate attention.

The chief justice directed the DJs to ensure that the district education officers and education works department authorities will ensure take steps to immediately get unlocked the premises of any school found locked or lying non-functional during inspections.

The district judicial officers are directed to comply with these directives and submit compliance reports to the SHC by September 15 (today) for perusal of the chief justice.

As Sindh’s executive authority limits itself more to lip service then taking practical steps to improve education standards, the province’s judiciary seems to have taken up the task to put the things right, at least in the education department.

The provincial chief justice has been relying on media reports to ask what the government functionaries are doing to improve the standards of education, conditions at government-run schools, lack of basic facilities, including teaching staff, absenteeism and utilisation of funds.



According to sources, the SHC registrar had previously directed the district and sessions judges of Kashmore, Jacobabad, Khairpur, Thatta and Kamber-Shahdadkot districts to hold an inquiry into the alleged closure of schools in the areas pointed out in the media reports.

The judicial officers have been directed them to submit their reports to the SHC registrar’s office.

Before that, the CJ Sheikh, had directed the DJs of Tando Muhammad Khan, Mithi, Khairpur and Kashmore districts to inquire into the reports regarding lack of the basic facilities as well as teaching staff at government schools.

In the news reports it was stated that many schools lack basic facilities and teachers were also absent from their duties. As a result, a number of students were deprived of education.

Judicial sources said the top judge had taken notice of the poor state of affairs at government-run schools in the public’s interest, as a large number of students in those areas were not able to get an education.

Earlier, this month CJ Sheikh had issued directives to the secretary of the provincial education and literacy department to submit a detailed report on the conditions of government schools, the shortage of teachers and buildings and funds across the province.



Sources said the CJ had called such details from the secretary after the registrar had put up a note based on the media reports on various issues pertaining to the condition of the schools’ premises, non-availability of school buildings, shortage of teachers and numbers of students.

Therefore, the secretary was directed to obtain reports from the education officers in each district and submit detailed reports on the present conditions of the schools, necessary steps or measures taken and the funds allocated or spent on repair and maintenance of the schools mentioned in the news item.