HYDERABAD, Dec 20: Sindh Education Minister Irfanullah Khan Marwat has stressed the need for improvement in the quality of education at primary and secondary levels, saying a strong base is necessary for higher education.

Speaking at the Sindh University Convocation, 2002, on Saturday, he said the Sindh government had taken several steps in that direction and made primary education compulsory.

Mr Marwat, who is also the pro-chancellor of the SU, said the government had provided free books to students of class-I to V.

He said to control the dropout ratio of students, specially girl students, in remote areas, the government had announced a stipend of Rs100 per month for girl students of class-VI to VIII.

He said the government had lifted the ban on recruitment and added that 20,000 jobs would be created in the education department for which selection would be made on merit.

The minister claimed that the government had eliminated ghost schools and teachers to ensure that funds were spent judicially on the improvement of infrastructure and standard of education.

He said the Centre would be moved to constitute a task force to improve the educational structure and provide better service conditions for teachers.

He observed that universities were not only required to disseminate knowledge but also to generate new knowledge which was not possible without research.

The pro-chancellor said through research programmes, the universities could develop technology for utilization of indigenous raw material which would give a boost to industry and contribute in poverty alleviation.

He said the universities should establish a strong liaison with business and industry, evaluate their requirements and draw up collaborative research programmes to resolve problems confronting the country.

He hailed the SU for switching over to four-year degree programme and upgrading science faculty curriculums.

The minister coffered degrees on 246 bachelor’s, master’s, law, MPhil and PhD students and awarded gold medals to 14 students who had topped their disciplines. Silver medals were given to 64 students.

He congratulated the degree and medal recipients.

In his speech, vice-chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqui informed the minister about transport problems of the students and expressed the hope that he would help resolve the problem.

He said the university would gradually introduce reforms in its four-year degree programme. He said new disciplines had also been introduced to expand job opportunities for the university graduates.

He disclosed that 160 students from foreign countrie were enrolled in the university.