HYDERABAD, Dec 11: Reno-wned educationist and scholar Dr N. A. Baloch has called for joint efforts by the ruling and opposition parties to improve the quality of education. He said politicians should play their due role in curbing political activities in universities and colleges and ensure respect for teachers.

He was speaking at a seminar on “Quality of education: issues and solution,” organized by the faculty of education, University of Sindh, in collaboration with the Almuni Association of Government College Hyderabad on Saturday.

Dr Baloch called for declaring education as an essential service, banning trade unionism, strikes and other activities which might disrupt routine work or vitiate peaceful atmosphere in educational institutions. He, however, advocated formation of associations by students so that they could engage themselves in activities like entertainment and education’s advancement which should not disturb peaceful environment at campuses. He added that employees should be restrained from forming pressure groups to force the administration to accept their demands.

He said a national programme of free and compulsory elementary education should be introduced which should be adopted gradually, adding that it would improve the literacy rate and save funds being used in non-productive literacy campaigns.