KARACHI, April 9: The Sindh government would convert two of its secondary schools, in every Taluka or town, into English medium model high schools, one each for girls and boys, it was learnt officially.

Sources in the government said that in all 208 English medium model schools would be established over a period of two years, under the De-centralized Elementary Education Project, which is being financed by the Asian Development Bank.

The DEEP, comprising various educational components, was a six-year project, with a total cost of US$100m, added the sources.

A senior official in the Sindh education department said that the idea behind the establishment of the English medium model schools was to improve the quality of education and bring the government-run educational institutions at par with the private sector schools.

Under the model schools project, government wanted to provide quality education in English medium to the students belonging to lower and middle income groups, the official added.

It was learnt that of the 208 proposed schools, 68 would be set up at secondary schools by constructing additional rooms for pre-primary to matric classes at one premises and under one administration.

The allocated amount for such schools is Rs1.3 million per unit, which will be utilized for construction of at least six new rooms in each school.

Another 140 model schools, as required under the PC-I, will be established by merging one primary and one secondary school, which are, at present, functioning in same premises or same locality.

Such model schools would also be provided with computer labs, libraries, English language teachers, besides providing training to existing staff of the schools, said sources.

While government had already notified the establishment of one girls’ and one boys’ English medium model high school, the Sindh education department officials started survey and identification process for spotting the secondary and primary schools for the purpose, it was further learnt.