KARACHI: Sindh govt awaits ADB approval for schools' upgrade
By Mukhtar Alam
KARACHI, April 13: Sindh Education department is waiting for an approval by a loan-giving agency for launching of civil works pertaining to upgrade of primary and elementary schools in the province
, sources in the department said.
As executer of the Decentralized Elementary Education Project (Deep), through respective district authorities, has identified and verified locations for 300 primary schools at Larkana, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Nawabshah, for upgrade, during the year 2004.
Under the Deep, which is financed by the Asian Development Bank, on average of three classrooms, a science room and basic supporting amenities, are to be added to selected existing primary schools. The upgraded schools would be provided with recurrent expenditures for teachers.
According to an assessment made in October last, at a workshop held in connection with the project and attended by an ADB mission as well, the construction works and appointment of teachers were planned to be kicked off in December 2003.
However, despite the fact that the ADB-approved guidelines had been followed, the go-ahead signal from the loaning bank was still awaited, a source said.
Deep has been functional since 2003 at a cost of Rs5.88 billion with the assistance of Asian Development Bank. The project envisages improving access to and quality of elementary-level education (Class VI to VIII) with emphasis on promotion of girls' education in rural areas and urban slums of the province.
The projects targets include upgrade of 1,200 high-potential existing primary schools (65 per cent girls' school) to elementary level, establishment of two model English medium schools in each taluka, opening of 1,000 nursery schools in existing primary schools, distribution of free textbooks to all female students of existing and new schools, support for elementary teachers' colleges and professional development of 500 master trainers from districts.
Out of the total project cost, 23 per cent, ie Rs1.34bn, is to be shared by the Sindh government. Sindh government had signed the Deep with the ADB in 2002, while the loan agreement for the purpose is effective from July 31, 2003.
At present, there are about 39,000 primary schools in the province, against which there are only 2,100 middle schools and an equal numbers of secondary schools and as such a big gap existed between primary and middle schooling, which has caused an increase in drop out rate after class V, government quarters said.
The province needed about 19,000 more schools with classes VI to VII education facilities to cater to the needs of population in 10-12 age group, which is believed to be out of school.
When contacted, Deep's Director, Sain Dad Solangi, said on Tuesday that a total of 1,200 primary schools were to be upgraded under the project, out of which 300 schools were to be upgraded during the year 2004 at four districts.
He said that the ADB guidelines regarding selection of primary schools for upgrade had strictly been followed, while the local executers of the project had also scrutinized the recommended sites. We have furnished the details of schools to the mission last month, he added, saying that civil works could be started within two months after the approval was accorded by the ADB.
He said that five elementary school teachers would also be appointed for the upgraded schools by the time the construction works at the schools were completed. He informed that procedural work pertaining to addition of pre-nursery classes to about 1,000 primary schools was also underway.
