KARACHI: The Sindh government signed agreements on Monday to outsource 32 schools to private sector education management organisations (EMOs) in the province.

According to the agreements, 32 schools, including 13 USAID schools, will be outsourced to EMOs formed under USAID’s Sindh Basic Education Programme (SBEP).

The pacts were signed at a ceremony held at the CM House. School Education Secretary Akbar Laghari and office-bearers from three successful EMOs — Sindh Madressatul Islam Board (SMB), Dare-i-Arqam Schools (Pvt.) Ltd. and MDZed (Pvt) Ltd — signed the agreements to manage the schools for 10 years.

The SMB will manage four newly-constructed schools through USAID support and 10 other Sindh government schools in Malir and West districts of Karachi.

The Dare-i-Arqam Schools will run four newly-constructed schools and four grouped schools in district Qambar-Shahdadkot, while MDZed (Pvt) Ltd will manage five newly-constructed schools and five other Sindh government schools in the districts of Kashmore and Jacobabad.

The US government through USAID is contributing $159.2 million for the SBEP whereas the Sindh government is also providing $10m as cost-sharing for the same.

The event was also attended by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah, United States Consul General Mark Stroh and other officials from the USAID.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2021