1,000 new schools to be set up in Sindh

Move is aimed at bringing 200,000 children back to classrooms

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah granted permission on Wednesday to the Sindh Education Foundation (SEF) for establishing 1,000 school on the public-private partnership model.

The CM gave the approval for setting up new schools while presiding over a meeting of the SEF board of governors, where he was informed that the initiative was aimed at bringing 200,000 out-of-school children back to classrooms.

Subsidy

Besides, SEF managing director Kazi Kabir told the board of governors that a five percent increase in the subsidy on children enrolled in schools had been approved and yet, no subsidy was given for the past five years. He further said currently, a subsidy of Rs700 was to be given for all primary grades, but it failed to give any incentive to partners to progress.

In its place, Kabir proposed increasing the subsidy for grades katchi to two by Rs100 and for grades three to five by Rs300 to ensure that partners were given an incentive to progress. And higher subsidy rates for higher grades will motivate partners to recruit specialist teachers, he added.

On the recommendation of a SEF committee, the board approved a subsidy of Rs800 for grades katchi to two, of Rs1,000 for grades three to five, Rs1,500 for grades six to eight, Rs2,000 for grades nine and 10 and Rs2,200 for grades 11 and 12.

Scholarships

The board also agreed to offer scholarships to high achievers who studied at government schools and got admissions in cadet colleges on merit. Students who are to be offered scholarships will be selected by the SEF's academic council.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2021.