3,000 centres for non-formal education will be established in Sindh'

KARACHI:

Representatives from global and local institutions working for the advancement of education, social figures, scholars, and others emphasised that efforts to increase education and literacy in Sindh should prioritise providing basic education in children's mother tongue. Furthermore, steps to promote multilingual education should be strengthened so that future generations can enhance communication and learn from one another. These thoughts were expressed by the speakers during an event held at Karachi's Marriott Hotel in connection with World Literacy Day.

Sindh's Minister for Education and Mineral Development, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, participated as the chief guest. The event, organised by the Directorate of Literacy and Non-Formal Education, was titled "Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace." In addition to representatives from global organisations working in education, the event was attended by Sindh School Education Secretary Zahid Ali Abbasi, social activist Shehzad Roy, Javed Jabbar, JICA Chief Advisor Javed Gill, MD of Sindh Education Foundation Qazi Kabir, Director of Non-Formal Education Abdul Jabbar Mari, head of the Thar Education Alliance Partab Shivani, JICA's Prem Sagar, educators, teachers, and students.

Sardar Ali Shah said non-formal education would help- out-of-school children in Sindh not only complete their education but also gain skills to earn livelihood. In this regard, 100 non-formal education centers are being established in each district. In the first phase, these 3,000 centers will provide both education and vocational training to children who have dropped out of school.

The provincial minister highlighted that most out-of-school children come from families prioritizing economic needs over education, perpetuating a cycle of exploitation. He attributed this issue to a lack of population control, where families focus on immediate economic benefits.

The minister criticized the federal government for not providing accurate statistics, noting that over 10 million children are enrolled in schools and seminaries, while more than 4 million remain out of school.