HYDERABAD, Jan 30: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has said conditions at primary and secondary levels should be improved and added the provincial government is alive to this problem and has already made primary education compulsory.

Presiding over the Sindh University Convocation, 2001, held at the Jamshoro campus on Thursday, the governor said implementation of this plan was in its initial stages but expressed the hope it would go a long way in providing a base.

He said steps would be taken to check the drop-out rate, particularly of girls.

He said a monthly stipend of Rs100 for girls students of class VI to VIII had already been announced and the Sindh government was providing free education to students up to matric.

The governor said he would ask the government to improve service conditions for teachers in rural areas.

He said the federal government would also be requested to constitute a task force for improving the quality of education and providing better service conditions for primary and secondary school teachers.

About transport problems being faced by students, the governor said he would take up the matter with quarters concerned.

Later, the governor attended a reception, hosted by the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

MESSAGES: In his message on the occasion of the Convocation Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali stated that the government of President Gen Musharraf, while realizing the precarious situation, rose to the task of improving the quality of education.