CM orders distribution of textbooks by August 14

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has stressed the need for timely distribution of textbooks and the introduction of a teaching test for educators in the province. He said that during a meeting with officials of the Provincial Education Department on Thursday.

CM Shah directed the Education Department officials to ensure the distribution of 4.453 million textbooks by August 14, 2024, to facilitate a smooth start to the new academic year in government-run schools. Schools in Sindh are scheduled to reopen on August 15. To ensure this, the Education Department has made arrangements for proper school functioning, timely textbook distribution, and the conduct of classes.

Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah underlined the importance of having a comprehensive plan for the academic year, including work plans and preliminary/mock exams.

Statistics and requirements

Sharing the statistics, Education Minister Sardar Shah said that Sindh has a total of 40,991 schools, including 36,203 primary, 15,575 middle, 1,051 elementary, 1,670 secondary, and 492 higher secondary. The teaching staff comprises 160,473 teachers - 107,550 male and 53,051 female. Student enrollment stands at 5.236 million, including 3.081 boys and 2.154 girls. The current teacher-student ratio is 1:32.

CM Shah voiced concerns about the lack of communication and teaching skills among many teachers. To address this, it was proposed that teachers will be required to pass a teaching exam every five years to maintain their teaching positions. This measure aims to ensure that teachers remain up-to-date with best practices.

The chief minister also directed the Education Department to implement an inspection system to monitor and improve the quality of education.