KARACHI, Dec 23: The Sindh education department has planned to develop some of its schools as model educational centres in collaboration with the private sector.

A meeting of senior education department officials and representatives of the AKU’s Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) was held recently to chalk out a programme for implementation of a “school improvement model”, developed and practised in Karachi and the Northern Areas, sources in the education department said.

The department wants to enhance the quality of education in government schools and for this purpose the AKU-IED would provide specially-trained faculty. The AKU-IED staff would be posted initially in five government schools, where, in addition to the existing staff, the government teachers, graduated from the AKU-IED, would be deployed for a period of one year to implement the programme.

It was learnt that the government intended to implement the teaching model in a few selected schools from the next academic session. However, a final decision would be taken in consultation with the city government.

The government expects to get a resource battery for the faculty after completion of the project in the five schools, which would further be mobilized in other schools.

Prior to the implementation of the school improvement model, the government would have to ensure an effective school management committee, adequate number of teachers and students as well as good infrastructure.

It was said that if certain schools lacked the sanctioned staff, the government first of all would ensure the posting of required staff. The IED-graduates would also be deputed by making adjustments in the existing staff, if needed.

During the initial meeting, five government schools were identified for implementation of the programme. The schools are: Pilot School, Nazimabad; Sir Syed Town Girls School, New Karachi; Junior Model School, Clifton; President House Primary School, Karachi; and H.M. Khawaja Model High School in Nawabshah.

The selection was made as these schools were relatively good in terms of infrastructural facilities and students and teachers strength. “We have selected these schools as they did not need any fresh financing for the purpose,” said an official.

It was said that the Khawaja High School provided education to about 1,800 students from class VI to X.

It has 79, out of 106 allocated staff, while 32 computers and fully-equipped workshops for wood works and metal works were also available at the schools, spread over an area of 16 acres, with 52 classrooms.