KARACHI, Aug 30: The office-bearers of the Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association, condemning the provincial education department's policy of denationalization of educational institutions , demanded that the decision to denationalize St Pat's and St Joseph's colleges be revoked.

In a meeting with the teachers and students from Liaquatabad Town, held at the Govt Sir Syed College for Women, Nazimabad on Monday, They also demanded the Sindh government to review its denationalization policy and called for allocation of five per cents of the country's GDP for education sector.

The SPLA praised Sindh Ombudsman Yousuf Jamal's statement in which he had reportedly said that educational institutions had been transformed into money-making machines, and that they should be brought under strict control.

The meeting expressed concern over Sindh Education Minister Dr Hamida Khuhro's statements against teachers and demanded her removal from the ministry. The SPLA's Sindh President Prof Syed Riaz Ahsan said that after denationalization of colleges, education would go beyond the reach of the students belonging to the middle and lower-middle class, adding that the teaching and non-teaching staff would also be affected by the denationalization.

Later, the participants of the meeting held a protest demonstration outside the college against the denationalization of colleges, and chanted slogans against the education minister.

They also presented a resolution to Liaquatabad Town Nazim Dr Pervez Mahmood, and urged him to support the campaign against denationalization of educational institutions.

DECISION LAUDED: The SPLA has lauded the Sindh government decision that a team headed by provincial education secretary would undertake a visit to the educational institutions, saying it would help improve the institutions.