KARACHI, March 4: The government-run primary schools in the city enrolled about 20 per cent of the total population in the age group of 4-9 years, an official report said.

Out of the 1698809 children in the age group, suitable for primary education — class I to V — 331154 students, including 177736 girls, were enrolled in 2327 primary schools, while the rest either joined private schools or sat at homes.

According to the Sindh Education Management Information System (SEMIS) school census report 2001-02, prepared only a couple of months ago, there were, on average, 130 students and seven teachers in each government primary school in the city.

Though the infrastructure and availability of trained teachers appeared to be nearly satisfactory in the government schools, perhaps it were the quality of education or the status consciousness of parents which did not allow people to prefer the government sector when it comes to schooling of their wards, said an educationist.

During a period from 1997 to 2001, the number of primary schools was raised from 2214 to 2327, while primary class enrolment decreased gradually. The total enrolment in 1997 was 349540, including 182616 that of girls, which decreased to 303974, including 161439 that of girls, by the year 2001.

There were 1677 schools in urban areas, while 650 schools existed in the rural areas of the city, while 25 of the urban and 13 of the rural areas schools were closed for various reasons, including non-availability of teaching staff, enrolment or facilities.

A total of 81 primary institutions were recorded by the SEMIS as schools without sanctioned number of staff. On papers, such schools were planned to be opened but it failed to function due to non-appointment of staff and unavailability of buildings or furniture.

In addition to 1608 Urdu-medium primary schools, there were 677 Sindhi-medium, 19 English-medium and 23 mixed schools. As many as 1184 schools functioned in the morning shift, while 761 ran in the afternoon.

Enrolment of students in the Urdu-medium institutions stood at 279107, while those in the Sindhi-medium institutions it was 43929 and for English-medium the number was 5504.

With respect to conditions of primary schools, the report said that 934 needed minor repairs, while 46 were in a dangerous condition and required major repairs or renovation.

About basic facilities, it was said that there were 1554 schools — about 67 per cent — without electricity, 1098 without toilets, 1314 without drinking water facility and 836 without a boundary wall.

About 2087 primary schools were without libraries, 1411 without playgrounds and 749 without management committees. There were 143, including 101 in urban and 42 in rural areas, such primary schools, which, according to the report, were shelterless — conducting classes in the open and having no building and branches or were operating in rental buildings.