LARKANA, March 28: A programme of compulsory primary education was launched in 20 selected talukas of Sindh on Thursday.

The Sindh education secretary, Nazar Hussain Mahar, in this connection visited Ratodero, a taluka, chosen for this programme.

He launched the programme by speaking at a seminar and launching a book “Endeavour for community participation and management excellence for public education in Sindh” prepared by the Bureau of Curriculum, Sindh.

He said that 20 talukas in the Sindh province had been chosen for the programme and added that free textbooks with a cost of Rs15 million would also be provided to students of class one to five under this programme.

“We shall try to achieve 100 per cent literacy rate in the selected talukas of the province,” the secretary said and invited different sections of society to play their due role in attaining the goal.

He warned the absentee teachers to mend their way or face severe disciplinary action and in the same breath he disclosed that Rs4.8 million had been earmarked for rewards to best teachers in schools and colleges.

Mr Mahar said that Rs200 million had been sanctioned to undertake development schemes in the education sector in Larkana district alone.

Earlier, walks in Larkana and Ratodero were held to mark the launching of the programme.