KARACHI, March 11: A World Bank (WB) mission has assured technical and financial help in preparation of a plan for the promotion of education in Sindh.

The mission held out the assurance at a meeting with the Sindh Minister for Education and Literacy, Dr Hamida Khuhro here on Thursday.

The WB team comprised of senior education specialist Ms Tahseen Sayed, education economist Ms Corinne Siaens and Naveed H Naqvi.

The meeting was also attended by Special Secretary Education, Abdul Qadir Mangi and Additional Secretary (PDF) Ahmed Fahim Mughal.

Both sides reviewed the present situation in the education sector in Sindh.

Dr Khuhro informed the mission about the yawning ratio of out-of-school children of 4 to 9 years age group, the high drop-out rate after primary and low quality of education and said she was trying her best to address those problems.

She informed about initiation of professional and skill development training for head masters/ principals under a comprehensive teacher’s training programme.

The minister described the quality of education very low in Sindh and said districts like Dadu, Jacobabad, Tharparkar, Sanghar and Larkana needed an immediate attention on this count.

The mission observed that low quality training was a major hurdle even for trained teachers to perform well.

Both sides agreed to enhance enrolment ratio, especially among girls by extending financial benefits in the shape of stipends in cash to their parents.

The mission assured that they would come up with a plan for the province to promote education in it’s backward districts.

They also announced technical and financial support for teacher’s training programme, mass awareness campaign and vigilance system in Sindh.

Meanwhile Dr Khuhro met a delegation of protesting teachers appointed in Dadu district on deceased quota.

She asked the special secretary education to pursue this matter with finance department for release of salaries.—APP