KARACHI, Sept 24: The Sindh assembly was informed on Friday that 7,000 teachers would soon be appointed in the province to overcome their shortage in government schools.

Responding to supplementary questions from opposition benches during the question hour in Sindh Assembly on Friday, Education Minister Dr Hameeda Khuhro stated that EDOs have been directed to set up vigilance committees to bring about an improvement in the overall functioning of schools and to ensure payment of salaries to teachers on time. Those found involved in taking bribes from them would be taken to task, she further said.

She conceded that enrolment in government schools had gone down, but now parents were being persuaded to send their children for education. The minister said that performance of ad hoc teachers was better than the regular staff and they would be given preference in regularization.

In response to a question by Ms Shamim Ara Panhwar, the minister informed the house that the delay in recruitment of teachers was due to differences between the local government and the education department over recruitment and transfer of teachers.

The minister further stated that a total of 3,562 primary school teachers had been working on contract. Among them are 881 female teachers. All these appointments were made on the recommendations of the World Bank to reduce the burden on the provincial government.

She said that recruitment of 7,000 teachers would be made after release of funds to the province, and regularization of contract teachers would be considered if their performance and attendance were found satisfactory.

In reply to a supplementary question, the minister said that the experiment of recruiting teachers from far off places had failed and now it had been decided that local teachers would be hired in future.

A total of 715 Sindhi-medium schools are functioning in Karachi which include 610 primary, 68 middle, 28 high and nine higher secondary schools. In response to a question by Ms Nasreen Chandio, the house was further informed that of the 715 schools, 594 are for boys and 120 for girls.

The 120 schools included 67 primary, 39 middle, 10 high and four higher secondary schools. Likewise, out of 594 schools for boys, there are 542 primary, 29 middle, 18 high and five higher secondary schools.

Responding to a question by Hafiz Mohammad Naeem Shamozai, the minister said that EDO (Female) Matli Ms Hajira Abdul Ghaffar, along with 36 other officials, was involved in misappropriation of Rs 22.3515 million. They were suspended and a detailed inquiry was in progress.

The minister said that there were 69 sanctioned posts of female teaching staff in girls colleges of Larkana district; 59 are presently working, while of the 59 non-teaching staff, 58 are working.

Replying to a question by Mohammad Ayaz Soomro, Ms Khuhro also stated that under the DEEP programme, 14 primary schools, including nine girls schools of Rato Dero Taluka, have been recommended for upgradation to middle level.

The House was also informed that in Rato Dero, 14 boys and 10 girls primary schools are closed since Sept 15, 2003, owing to non-availability of local teachers. The minister said that now the government had sanctioned one post of PST teacher in each school.