Govt to strengthen partnership with Sindh Madressah Board

SMB is managing 35 government schools where 9,000 students are receiving quality education

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said that the Sindh Madressah Board (SMB), established in 1885 by Khan Bahadur Hassanally Effendi, is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in the province. It has worked hard for the promotion of education particularly in the low-income areas of Karachi, he added.

He expressed these views on Tuesday while talking to a delegation of the board led by Mazharul Haq Siddqui. Other members of the delegation included Shafiqur Rehman Paracha, Ashfaq Memon, Hakeem Baloch, Dr Shaista Effendi, Akram Baloch and Hanif Baloch.

The CM decided to further strengthen partnership with SMB, which is already working with the government, and involve them in the promotion of education, particularly through the public private partnership (PPP) model.



The delegation informed the CM that eight of the educational institutions of the SMB had been taken over by the government. These institutions include SM Lyari School, SM Girls School, SM Arts College, SM Science College, SM Law College, SMB Fatima Jinnah Girls Secondary School, SM Commerce Intermediate College, SM Commerce Degree College, SM Science Degree College, SMB Girls Primary School and SMB Fatima Jinnah Girls College.

The delegates requested that the administration of these schools might again be transferred to SMB. At this, the CM said that the government could work with SMB using the PPP model, particularly for schools which were earlier owned and managed by the board.

Shah directed education secretary for schools and colleges to scrutinise SMB's proposal and submit a report to him. "I am quite satisfied that the SM Board has established good schools in the rural areas of Karachi," said the CM.

Paracha informed the CM that Quaid-e-Azam Public School was initially started by SMB as a primary school and had now become a higher secondary school.

He said that SMB had also established a senior student hostel for the students coming in from the rural areas of the province.

Memon said that currently, SMB was running eight schools in low-income areas of Karachi and their enrolment rate and education standard was up to the mark. He added that SMB was also managing 35 government schools in which 9,000 students were receiving quality education.

The CM assured that the board would be given more land in the education city. The board has already purchased 200 acres in the city where Quaid-e-Azam School is operating.

Shah also approved the establishment of an endowment fund for Sindh Madressah so that the underprivileged students could get scholarships and other facilities.  He urged the SMB to also work in teacher training programme. "I want to establish a top class teachers training academy in which support and participation of SMB would be required," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2019.