KARACHI, Sept 1: Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim has deplored that owing to deteriorating standard of education at public sector educational institutions , parents are compelled to get their children enrolled at private educational institutions.

Speaking at 16th annual ceremony of Quaid-i-Azam Public School in Malir on Wednesday, he said that the funds provided for books, meals and other incentives by the education department to students were "unnecessary and a kind of corruption".

The chief minister said that the government would not compromise on standard of education. However, he stressed that teachers, students and their parents should also play their role in this regard and assist the authorities to improve education standard.

He said that the government would promote and encourage those professional institutions, which would be imparting quality education. "Many private educational institutes charge fees at exorbitant rates from students and a strategy for such institutes is under consideration," he added.

He regretted that a number of educational institutes had been set up in the past unnecessarily and their buildings remained in use for purposes other than imparting education. He said that the government would establish schools only in those areas, where genuinely required.

He directed the departments concerned to take steps for provision of electricity, telephone and water to public sector educational institutions. On the occasion, he announced provision of funds to the Quaid-i-Azam Public School to meet its two-third expenses keeping in view its performance.

He also directed education department to seek assistance from the school for teachers' training and asked the education minister to review the performance of technical training centres and take steps for their revival and activation.

Earlier, the head of Quaid-i-Azam Public School Nisar Ali Afandi, who is also the chairman of Sindh Madressah Board, welcomed the chief minister at the school and highlighted the role of pre-partition leaders in promotion of education.

Among others, heads of educational institutions in Sindh, vice-chancellors, principles of cadet colleges in Sindh, MPAs, students and their parents attended the ceremony. Later, the chief minister visited various departments of school, computer science lab, nursery, classrooms and technical training departments. - PPI