KARACHI, Sept 29: The Sindh government would take a decision shortly in regard to information technology teaching status and holding of its examination as compulsory subject in colleges and higher secondary schools.

It is learnt that a high-level meeting to review the available facilities for computer education in different colleges and higher education would be held within a couple of days. Besides taking a decision on whether to conduct the IT examinations as compulsory subject or not, the meeting would chalk out a comprehensive plan for IT education at colleges and higher secondary schools in the province, sources in the provincial education department said. In 2001, the federal government had decided to lay great emphasis on IT education and training and in line with the decision and further planning, the Sindh government also ordered introduction of IT as compulsory subject, at least at intermediate level, and education department moved to see the IT plan implemented on a war footing.

Students admitted to intermediate classes in the year 2001-2002 had been made to pay Rs1,000 extra as fee for IT education at colleges. Later, in view of inadequate facilities at educational institutions in interior of the province, related development and reservations expressed by certain quarters, the government decided to hold the IT examination as compulsory subject in the second year instead of first year.

However, the IT examinations as compulsory subject could not be held in the following year as the education minister, who himself had been opposing the idea, after discussing the issue with the officials of his ministry, finally recommended to the chief minister that the idea be dropped. The CM gave his approval to the recommendation.

The Sindh government declared that IT examinations as compulsory subject were being deferred for one year, but would be an optional subject in the examinations for the year 2003.

Once again, different sections of teaching and political quarters are bent upon forcing the authorities to forget about the IT education at colleges and that’s why, the government decided to convene the high-level meeting, the source claimed.

It is further learnt that under the directives of the senior provincial minister, a meeting of ministers, holding the portfolios of Planning and Development, Information Technology, Education, as well as secretaries of the concerned departments, had been convened to the look into the merits of the plan for the future of IT in the province.

In the meantime, according to sources, the IT department’s minister and secretary have strongly recommended and supported the idea of declaring IT education a compulsory subject at all levels — from primary schools to colleges — and urged the government to ensure availability of a infrastructure in terms of both equipment and qualified manpower for the purpose.

According to an estimate, there are 1,940 computers available with different colleges and higher secondary schools while another 2,000 or so computers are required.

In Karachi, almost all colleges, excluding the newly-established ones, have computer education facilities, though about 157 more computers are required for the higher secondary schools.

A senior academician said that things could not be finalized and adopted whole-heartedly unless the government went on that direction with determination. While suggesting implementation of IT courses in phases, he expressed the view that IT examinations could not be conducted as compulsory subject by all the educational boards simultaneously, but at least in the case of Karachi and Hyderabad, IT could be implemented in a true sense.

Parents and teachers are of the view that the government should not demand extra fee for IT teaching as it was already charging a full fee for intermediate education. Over the last two years, students have been made to pay an extra fee at the rate of Rs1,500 per head which would surely have helped the government build a computer laboratory, equipped with equipment and accessories, they say adding that the practice should now be stopped.

In a recently issued notification, the Sindh Education Department has announced the decision that computer fee would not be charged from students till adequate facilities for computer education as compulsory subject were made available to all the colleges and higher secondary schools in the province.