KARACHI, Oct 18: Executive district officer education has authorized all the district officers (DOs) education to deal with all service matters up to BPS-16, including high-school teaching and related cadre posts within their jurisdictions.

The authority and powers in this regard have been given under the devolution of power plan of the government. The Sindh education department has delegated administrative and financial authority to the respective city and district governments and its education officers in the province.

A letter to this effect was circulated among DO’s of elementary, secondary and higher secondary and special education and sports, academic and training, colleges, technical education, private schools and city district government Karachi, here on Thursday.

The letter says that it was expedient to devolve power and decentralize administrative and financial authority for good governance, effective delivery of services and transparent decision-making through institutionalized participation of the people at the grassroots level.

An official notification issued a few days back directs that all the matters pertaining to education administration, establishment, posting and relted assignment should be performed by the district officers of education in line with the policy chalked out by the city and district Nazims and the government from time to time.

The policy issues pertaining to the government including those relaed to the textbooks, curricula and examinations will be dealt with by the districts.

The executive district officer education of the city or district government will be the head of the office and district officers of education, elementary, secondary and higher secondary, planning, special education, sports, academic & training, colleges, technical education, private schools; with deputy district officers and assistant district officers at the elementary level with allied staff.

The functions of EDO education will be planning, research, development, mapping of schools, preparation of budget, its distribution, utilization and audit, registration and supervision of privately-managed educational institutions, monitoring and supervision of all educational institutions, recommendations for award of scholarship to students, selection of teachers for training, retaining and recommending them for admission in training colleges, posting and transfer of teaching and ministerial staff within the district, award of selection grade, move-overs, pension, writing of Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs), promotion of teaching as well as ministerial staff.

Establishment, upgradation, maintenance and repair of educational institutions and provision of basic facilities including furniture, equipment and other materials will also be the responsibility of EDO and his office.

The EDO education will also be responsible for preparation of the comprehensive district development plan.— PPI