KARACHI, May 18: The elementary education constitutes the most reliable stage for formal system of education and enhancing literacy. It also raises the possibilities for reducing drop-out rates and help more students complete their secondary education.
This was stated by Sindh Minister for Education Prof Anita Ghulam Ali at a seminar on “Impact of Devolution on Quality of Elementary Education” here on Saturday.
The seminar was organized by the bureau of curriculum and extension wing, Jamshoro, in collaboration with the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development, Karachi.
The minister said there was an added attraction for female students so that they could go on to the ladder of teacher training skills.
She observed that devastation of norms, values, potentials and standards were the consequence of low aspiration levels and limited objectives.
“For too long we set for ourselves minimum levels, because of which efforts were never really stretched, nor the reach extended beyond just meeting the benchmarks”.
As a result, she said, “we have fallen short of expectations of the beneficiaries of education.”
The education minister said the government had focused on “quality factor” and extended all possible help to the district Nazims for the propagation of education in the villages.
Prof Anita said a sum of Rs56.45 million had been earmarked for eight developmental projects/schemes under the bureau of curriculum and extension wing and all of them were in progress.
Sindh education secretary Nazar Hussain Maher, while highlighting the standard and progress of education in the province, said the government was committed to achieve the targets to provide education to all.
He suggested to utilize the Zakat funds for providing free education and said that preliminary negotiations had been held with the secretary of Zakat to provide at least Rs75 per child for the purpose.
He said arrangements were underway to impart training to all teachers under the school management programme during the next four years to enhance the standard of education.
The provincial coordination officer, bureau of curriculum and extension wing, Dr Mehboob Shaikh, briefed the participants of the seminar on the details of ongoing projects with reference to achievements and costs.
The seminar was also addressed by additional secretary (planning), Education Department, Prof Anwar Ahmed Zia; deputy secretary education Ghazala Qazi, and IED director Dr Gordon Mc Leod.—PPI
