KARACHI, Nov 25: The Sindh government has decided to move a bill in the provincial assembly for giving legal status to school management committees working for the past some years.

Sources in the education department said that the chief minister of Sindh had, in principle, approved the idea and now formalities were being met so that committees could be allowed to work independently and survive despite political and other pressures.

About two years back the Sindh government renamed parent-teacher associations of educational institutions as school management committees constituted throughout the province with the objective to supervise, oversee and regulate the functioning of the institutions. These bodies were also entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing and managing the funds generated locally or provided by the government.

After the passing of the SMC bill through the assembly, the district government will include the committees in their respective citizen community boards.

At present, according to official data, over 43,000 primary, middle, secondary and higher secondary schools are functional in the province and about 17,000 of them have the committees. The management committees comprise representatives of union councils, teachers, parents, NGOs/CBOs and notables.

According to the government notification, the committees, while utilizing the funds, are required to give priority to appointment of teaching and non-teaching staff including teachers for early childhood education, textbooks, teachers’ training, provision of basic amenities to students, repair and maintenance of school buildings, construction of additional classrooms, provision of furniture, health care and stipends to students.

Sources said foreign donor agencies had been stressing legal protection to the committees so that they could continue functioning without any interference.