Awami Jamhoori Party wants declaration of 'education emergency'
The speakers said that the Sindh government is not serious about addressing the issues.
Speakers said that all stakeholders, including political parties, civil society members, teachers, parents and the government, are responsible for the decrepit education system in Sindh. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Four million children in Sindh are not enrolled in schools and according to the Awami Jamhoori Party (AJP), this is an emergency.
The party wants the government to declare an 'education emergency' for the next 10 years and have formed a committee to help the government improve matters.
"Political interference should be restricted in colleges and universities while teachers' associations must also remain impartial to politics and influences," the AJP's declaration demands. "Model schools for girls and boys should be established in each taluka, equipped with a library, a laboratory and other facilities. All technical schools across the province should also be made functional immediately."
During a consultative conference on education, 'Taleemi Sallah Maslehat Conference [Consultative Conference on Education]', organised by the AJP at the Karachi Press Club on Sunday, the speakers said that all stakeholders, including political parties, civil society members, teachers, parents and the government, are responsible for the decrepit education system in Sindh.
"We all are equally responsible for the condition of education in the province," said writer and lawyer Amanullah Shaikh. "The province needs a secular education system; one that is unbiased."
Shaikh felt that the only way that significant improvements will be seen is if all stakeholders play their due role and the other speakers agreed. "The major reason for the current situation is massive corruption in the education department," alleged AJP president Karam Hussain Wassan. "We all need to stand together and fight for education. This is the only way to progress and compete with other nations."
The party's general-secretary, Vishno Mal, also highlighted the importance of education. "Progress without acquiring education is not possible," he said. "Almost 80 per cent of the rural population has no education facilities."
The speakers said that the Sindh government is not serious about addressing the issues and added that a modern and scientific education system needs to be introduced.
"We are ready to help with this," said former vice-chancellor of the Sindh University, Mazharul Haq Siddiqui, who is also a member of the newly-formed AJP committee. "I hope the government will help us in addressing this issue and we'll fight with the government if it denies us the right to do so."
Speaking on the importance of education, educationist Prof KS Nagpal said that education, health and justice are three basic rights and that all three have been snatched from the people of Sindh. He said that fake education institutions have also ruined the education of the province. "Our students don't know Sindhi, Urdu or English properly. The system in Sindh will be up to the standard when the education minister and secretary enroll their own children in public schools," he added.
"Politics is responsible for this destruction," said Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam's, Prof Dr Siraj Siyal. "Education system in Sindh has been destroyed deliberately."
The speakers felt that all those who want to bring about a change in the system should play their part individually and do whatever is required to improve the situation.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2014.
Four million children in Sindh are not enrolled in schools and according to the Awami Jamhoori Party (AJP), this is an emergency.
The party wants the government to declare an 'education emergency' for the next 10 years and have formed a committee to help the government improve matters.
"Political interference should be restricted in colleges and universities while teachers' associations must also remain impartial to politics and influences," the AJP's declaration demands. "Model schools for girls and boys should be established in each taluka, equipped with a library, a laboratory and other facilities. All technical schools across the province should also be made functional immediately."
During a consultative conference on education, 'Taleemi Sallah Maslehat Conference [Consultative Conference on Education]', organised by the AJP at the Karachi Press Club on Sunday, the speakers said that all stakeholders, including political parties, civil society members, teachers, parents and the government, are responsible for the decrepit education system in Sindh.
"We all are equally responsible for the condition of education in the province," said writer and lawyer Amanullah Shaikh. "The province needs a secular education system; one that is unbiased."
Shaikh felt that the only way that significant improvements will be seen is if all stakeholders play their due role and the other speakers agreed. "The major reason for the current situation is massive corruption in the education department," alleged AJP president Karam Hussain Wassan. "We all need to stand together and fight for education. This is the only way to progress and compete with other nations."
The party's general-secretary, Vishno Mal, also highlighted the importance of education. "Progress without acquiring education is not possible," he said. "Almost 80 per cent of the rural population has no education facilities."
The speakers said that the Sindh government is not serious about addressing the issues and added that a modern and scientific education system needs to be introduced.
"We are ready to help with this," said former vice-chancellor of the Sindh University, Mazharul Haq Siddiqui, who is also a member of the newly-formed AJP committee. "I hope the government will help us in addressing this issue and we'll fight with the government if it denies us the right to do so."
Speaking on the importance of education, educationist Prof KS Nagpal said that education, health and justice are three basic rights and that all three have been snatched from the people of Sindh. He said that fake education institutions have also ruined the education of the province. "Our students don't know Sindhi, Urdu or English properly. The system in Sindh will be up to the standard when the education minister and secretary enroll their own children in public schools," he added.
"Politics is responsible for this destruction," said Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam's, Prof Dr Siraj Siyal. "Education system in Sindh has been destroyed deliberately."
The speakers felt that all those who want to bring about a change in the system should play their part individually and do whatever is required to improve the situation.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2014.