KARACHI, Jan 5: The federal minister for education, Zubaida Jalal, has said privatization of educational institutions in the country is a provincial matter, which will be followed in cooperation and after consultation with the teaching community.

She stated this while talking to newsmen during her visit to Sindh Madressahtul Islam here on Saturday.

About the ad hoc employees of the federal educational institutions, Ms Jalal said when she took charge as minister, about 700 teachers had been serving on the ad hoc basis since long.

However, she said, 200 of them were regularized after they cleared their tests, while the rest would be given another chance.

She said from now on it would be the policy of the federal and provincial governments to recruit teachers on an ad hoc basis and post them at places close to their homes.

Addressing the students of the Sindh Madressah, Ms Jalal called upon the youths to adhere to the principle of unity, faith and discipline for maintaining national unity and cohesion in their ranks to overcome designs of forces inimical to the sovereignty and integrity of the motherland.

She said the country was passing through a very critical period and there was a need to follow the teachings of the Father of the Nation.

The minister recalled that since 1999 the country had been facing various challenges, but the nation had demonstrated unity at the time of every crisis.

Initially, she said, the country faced the worst kind of drought in which many areas of Sindh and Balochistan were severely hit. It was encouraging that every citizen, particularly the students, collected relief funds/goods for the drought victims and distributed it among the affected people.

Moreover, after September 11, the country again demonstrated unity and discipline by making a unanimous decision to join the international community to fight terrorism, she added.

“Three months have passed now and this crisis is almost over, but for the last three weeks, the country is faced with another crisis in which India has deployed its forces on our border and threatening our national sovereignty,” she added.

Ms Jalal expressed her determination that the nation would emerge successful from this crisis also, by demonstrating unity, faith and discipline.

Referring to the plight of children living in rural areas and their lack of accessibility to basic needs of life and education, the minister said she was conscious of the condition since she hailed from the same area.

Earlier, students of the school presented a colourful programme including debates, national songs and tableaus. The minister announced Rs10,000 for the students, who took part in the function.—PPI/APP