KARACHI, Feb 24: Sindh Education Minister Dr Hamida Khuhro disclosed imposition of ban on student politics and student wings of political parties was under consideration at the "highest levels in Sindh" after President Pervez Musharraf recently suggested that politics should be out of educational institutions.

"Brawls, clashes and law and order situation at colleges have become a painful issue and president in his recent speech, hinted at imposing ban on politics at educational campuses" she told newsmen in her office on Thursday.

Dr Khuhro termed Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui as an "extremely competent person". She expressed her satisfaction on the steps taken by Mr Siddiqui for maintaining peace at colleges.

Commenting on the Sindh High Court's judgement in which education department was asked to replace EDO Schools of the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) with an officer of school cadre, she said prior to court's verdict there was ambiguity and uncertainty about the appointment of the DMG group's officers EDOs education.

"We were not clear whether an official of the DMG group could be appointed EDO Education or not. But now its clear and we will soon take appropriate action on court's directives" she added.

Dr Khuhro maintained that matter of excesses by private schools would be discussed with district nazims, especially with the City Nazim Niamatullah Khan to devise strategy for safeguarding students' and parents' interests.

According to her, administrative problems, lack of teachers, absence of an effective monitoring system, and lack of teachers training were the main factors hampering the performance of government schools. "Fortunately, now we have ample funds to upgrade government schools and we are emphasizing in these areas to make these schools acceptable for parents" she added.

She informed that by the end of the current year, over 20,000 teachers including secondary and higher secondary headmasters would be imparted training and it would help to improve the performance of government-run schools.

On recruitment of school teachers, Dr Khuhro said interviews of 1, 75,000 candidates for recruiting 7,500 teachers would begin from March and hopefully the process would be completed within two months.

Responding to a query she said she fully supports the Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKUEB) and there would be no restriction on any private school to get affiliated with it.

The minister claimed that the majority of schools and stake-holders had supported the government's move of changing the academic calendar. Dr Khuhro informed that all incompetent officers in the education department would be removed soon."As far as foreign-funded educational projects like DEEP are concerned, we are at liberty to appoint anybody as the project director, manager or at any other post. But if they are not working efficiently, they will be removed" she assured.

Commenting on concession for students in public transport fares, she said if it was being given in Punjab then it should be given in Sindh too. "I'll discuss it with the concerned authorities and try to convince them" she added. -PPI