THIS is with reference to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s speech on Feb 15 at the Sindh Festival in Thatta. He said that the Taliban want to take us to the Stone Age.

Agreed beyond any doubt. However, I believe that equally dangerous is feudalism that has deprived the Sindhi people of education.

It is no more a secret that feudals use schools as their godowns and stables. They use teachers as their foot soldiers by patronising them.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is seen as a breath of fresh air for the people of Sindh and a whistle-blower who is capable of changing the dismal state of education in the province by challenging the feudal mindset.

The young leadership of the PPP should also declare an education emergency in Sindh. This can be done as follows:

i) The education budget should be substantially increased.

ii) Dysfunctional school buildings and teachers may be freed from the clutches of feudal chiefs.

iii) Education emergency cells may be established at the level of union councils.

iv) The best professionals/consultants may be hired to carry out needs and analysis with a view to working towards the common and updated curriculum for schools across the province.

v) The existing teachers should be trained accordingly and new ones should be recruited purely on the basis of merit.

vi) The infrastructure of schools may be improved.

vii) Valid and reliable assessment system may be devised which can conform to the required standards.

viii) A mechanism of checks and balances may be created at all levels, ranging from district education officers down to the teachers.

It is time Bilawal concentrated on education in Sindh and freed it from the yoke of feudalism and made the nation proud of its young leader.

Dr Rafique A. Memon

Hyderabad