NAWABSHAH: Vice chancellors of several universities, leaders of teachers’ associations, academicians and a large number of teachers, students and other people related to educational institutions attended a conference held here on Thursday to discuss ghost schools and teachers, declining standard of education and lack of proper education facilities in Shaheed Benazirabad and other districts of Sindh.

Speakers at the conference, held in Darbar Hall, stressed the need for intensifying efforts by the government and non-governmental organisations to promote the cause of education and strictly implementing the strategies chalked out to curb absenteeism at government schools and vitalise all all educational institutions across the province.

The conference focused on evaluating a methodology and strategy to effectively check absenteeism in teachers which, the speakers believed, was the root-cause of illiteracy specially in the rural areas of the province.

Presiding over the event, Shaheed Benazirabad Commissioner Jamal Mustafa Syed observed that the increasing trend of absenteeism in teachers had badly affected the quality of education and resulted in rising trend of drop-out at primary and secondary schools.

He recounted the measures being taken by the divisional authorities to promote the cause and pledged a fair evaluation of the state of education and the role of government institutions.

He hoped that the conference attended by people from a cross section of society would help identify the problems and recommend a variety of options and solutions.

The commissioner said that he along with deputy commissioners of all three districts of the division, the district education officers concerned and other officials would extend all possible cooperation and assistance in making the propose campaign a great success.

He said he, the DCs and the DEOs would pay a visit to three schools every week while additional deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners would pay a visit to four schools per week to ensure their proper functioning.

He recalled that a significant change was noticed when a similar campaign was launched in Hyderabad division last year and action was taken against a large number of absent and negligent teachers.

Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University vice chancellor Arshad Saleem told the audience that a recent research identified various types of ‘ghost teachers’ who included teachers drawing salaries but working abroad or with some media organisations or serving political parties or doing some other jobs as well. The report, he added, attributed the trend mainly to the poor social system and poverty.

He said an improvement could be brought about through proper guidance, strict monitoring, checks and balances and introduction of rewards and disciplinary action, besides involving community and providing relevant training to teachers.

Quaid-i-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology vice chancellor Prof Abdul Kareem Baloch pledged services of his institution to the divisional authorities in its crusade against the menaces destroying educational institutions.

Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences vice chancellor Ghulam Nabi Korai emphasised the need for involving all stakeholders in the struggle for a better social system leading to a perfect educational environment in the division.

Known activist Jami Chandio referred to the Article 37 and 38 of the Constitution on provision of education to every citizen and said the 18th constitutional amendment guaranteed free compulsory education to the children aged 5-15 years.

He said Sindh was allocating 23 per cent of its budget on education every year but the huge amount was not being utilised properly as much of it was spent under the head of salaries.

He said that out of 144 districts of the country, even Karachi was not in the top 50 in the list of those offering quality education. Naushahro Feroze and Nawabshah were at number 80 and 90, respectively, he added.

He noted that according to the official statistics, 62 per cent of children aged 5-15 years were not getting education.He said that considering the scenario, the government should announce an ‘education emergency’ for at least 10 years to cope with the situation.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2014