KARACHI, May 9: Eminent educationists, intellectuals and senior bureaucrats discussing the falling standard and commercialization of the education in the country, suggested setting up of a body with representation from private and public sector institutions to sort out problems and to recommend ways and means to resolve them.

Speaking at a seminar on “strengthening education through public-private partnership”, organized by the Sindh Madressatul Islam at its auditorium, they asserted that the public and private sector educational institutions should not work as rivals.

Sindh chief secretary, K. B. Rind, was chief guest at the inaugural session while Mohammad Hassan Bhutto, chairman, Sindh Public Service Commission, presided over rest of the session.

Mr. Rind called for public-private partnership to raise the standard of education. He especially spoke on bridging the gap, saying “quality and output is missing in our youths today”.

“We should focus on improving an overall literacy rate, besides containing dropouts and promoting literacy among women,” he asserted.

Mr Rind lauded the role of the Sindh Madressah from where youngsters who acquired education later became personalities of international and national repute.

Mohammad Hassan Bhutto quoted a UNESCO official who had stated that “first-line of defence for any country is education” and said in order to make this defence-line more stronger, the public and private sector institutions should work together instead of considering themselves as rivals.

Prof. Abdul Wahab of the Jinnah University said our education system reflects the evils prevailing in our own society.

He spoke of the mafia operating in education sector, prevailing corruption and inefficiency and said in certain cases, it had been noticed that cooks and drivers have been appointed primary teachers.

Nisar Ahmed Siddiqui, provincial secretary mines and mineral development, expressed concern over falling standard of education and said graduates applying for jobs through public service commission lacked the required skills.

Z. A. Nizami, Chancellor Sir Syed University of Engineering, Science and Technology, Karachi, said there must not be confrontation among public and private institutions. “They should establish a forum to sit together and sort out problems and harmonize the matters,” he added.

Nisar Effandi, President Sindh Madressah Board, suggested that aptitude tests be conducted for admission to all the institutions. He criticized nationalization of educational institutions by the government in 1970s.

Dr. Muhammad Sharif Memon, chairman Board of Intermediate Education, Karachi, Mohammad Ali Shaikh, Principal, and Ms. Afroz Abbasi Vice Principal, Sindh Madressatul Islam also spoke.—PPI