1,400 schools reopened in Sindh: minister

THATTA: Provincial Minister for Education Pir Mazharul Haq has claimed that out of the 7,700 schools previously closed in the province, the education department has succeeded in having 1,400 of them reopened.

Addressing a press conference at the residence of PPP MPA Sadiq Ali Memon, he said that about 1,700 schools were not reopened for legitimate reasons, while the remaining 3,500 schools would be reopened soon. The minister contended that according to an agreement between the Sindh government and World Bank, the district government was not competent to establish new schools.

Expressing his concern over the deteriorating condition of education and schools in the province, he said devolution proved to be the major cause of the deplorable condition of the education sector and without shifting the management of school buildings from the district governments to the provincial education department, the situation would be impossible to improve. Criticising the performance of an NGO, the minister said he had already complained to the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) about it and is waiting for their response.

Earlier, he held a meeting with MNA Dr Wahid Soomro and other MPAs to debate issues related to education. He told the meeting that 1,900 teachers would be recruited through the public service commission to overcome the shortage of teachers.