Sindh’s education challenge

Sindh has consistently lagged in education standards compared to other provinces and regions of the country. This dire situation stems from decades of misgovernance, rampant corruption and government neglect. The male literacy ratio is 71% whereas for females it is just 46%. To make matters worse, the dropout rate in the province stands at 54%. The interim Chief Minister was recently informed that Rs2 billion have been earmarked for construction of school buildings this year.

The absence of checks and balances coupled with the prevailing political uncertainty raises concerns over the effective utilisation of these funds. Earlier, the former Sindh government recruited as many as 60,000 teachers for public schools. This initiative faced criticism due to inadequate teacher training. Now the steering committee of the Sindh education department has suggested a 15-day training programme for school and college teachers during summer vacations. This initiative can improve teaching and learning outcomes as teachers will regularly undergo training to update their methodologies and techniques. However, addressing issues such as shortages of coursebooks and student absenteeism is essential to ensure the success of this endeavour. In impoverished and flood-affected regions, educating children is not a priority for the majority of families.

The complex and multi-faceted education crisis in Sindh has left its youth trapped in the past. This is evident from their poor performances in matriculation and intermediate exams along with university tests and employability assessments. A significant portion of Sindh’s youth finds themselves at a disadvantage when compared with their counterparts in other provinces. The interim government must solidify plans for school construction and training programmes ensuring they evolve from mere intentions into actionable initiatives. The fate of Sindh’s youth should not be determined by the callousness and negligence of self-serving leaders. The youth deserve a chance to uplift themselves and excel.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2023.

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