HYDERABAD: Federal Minister for Education Madad Ali Sindhi has observed that education sector in Sindh had not shown an improvement while appointments on political consideration remained aplenty. Resultantly, the funds released for this sector were being utilised for payment of salaries and pensions, he said.

He was speaking to the media during his visit to the Hyderabad Press Club on Friday.

He remarked that school education in the province stood destroyed.

Government schools remained out of priorities of the provincial authorities that had imparted quality education in the past, he noted.

Says people are now putting questions to past rulers; finds conditions at many departments ‘regrettable’

He said teachers were not imparted training and political appointments had destroyed the entire education system. The minister also observed that there was awakening among people and they were now putting questions to past rulers.

He emphasised the need for highlighting Sindh’s contribution to the creation of Pakistan.

He observed that those elected in the past could not put the national economy on the right track. “General elections would certainly be held, but improving economy is indeed a lengthy job,” he said.

Centre allocations for improvement

Mr Sindhi pointed out that after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, education was devolved to provinces. He said that federal funds amounting to Rs1,829m had been provided to Sindh by the financial year 2023-24 and now Rs15m was also being allocated.

According to him, the Sindh University has already received Rs15m while three new hostels are being built in that institution. Still, the federal government is endeavouring to bring about an improvement in departments on its own.

Conditions at schools in Islamabad

He said that conditions at schools in Islamabad were also not satisfactory, and added that he did not find adequate toilet facilities at a girls school in the F-6, a prime area of Islamabad. “Ironically, private schools, instead of government schools, are given benefits,” he remarked.

“Comparatively, education system in Punjab is better than in Sindh,” he observed.

The minister was also critical of PhD degree-holders’ teaching capability. “PhD degree-holders don’t know how to impart education,” he said, and added that under higher education also, Rs15m is being allocated for scholarships in universities.

He said that the Shaheed Allah Bux Soomro University of Art had been getting Rs886m from HEC every year.

He said that this university was named after Shaheed Allah Bux Soomro and regretted that even the university management was not aware of past heroes.

He said he believed that youths must be taught about these heroes. He said that no country could progress without education. Problems in Sindh are aplenty and conditions at many departments are regrettable.

Interprovincial conference

The federal education minister informed the media that an interprovincial conference was being convened on October 16 to ensure admissions for poor children to schools and for improving the education system.

He deplored that teachers were getting salaries in millions but did not know how to teach. He said Sindh education boards would have to be digitised.

He said at least the foundation for a better education system in Sindh could be laid if it was not improved. He added that ministers would give their suggestions at the conference. Earlier, HPC president Lala Rehman Samoo and secretary Hameedur Rehman welcomed the minister.

Attends programme at SU

Madad Ali Sindhi also attended a programme organised by the Students’ Financial Aid Office (SFAO) at Sindh University to offer scholarships to its outstanding students as well as those of the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences and Shaheed Allah Bakhsh University of Art, Design & Heritage.

SU Vice Chancellor Dr Mohammad Siddique Kalhoro highlighted Madad Ali Sindhi’s commendable contributions to education, research and culture.

The minister promised to expand the National Endowment Scholarship for Talent (NEST) programme to include two incumbent or former VCs from Sindh with the aim of extending scholarship opportunities to the students coming from rural areas of Sindh.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2023