KARACHI, Feb 1: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has ordered handing over of the management of six schools being run by the provincial government on the premises of the PAF Masroor Base to the Pakistan Air Force.

He also ordered release of Rs30 million to the PAF to meet the essential and routine expenditure incurring in the management of these schools.

The chief minister also pledged that the provincial government would continue to bear all the expenditure of the schools even after their takeover by the PAF.

Dr Arbab issued the orders during his visit to the schools on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, he observed that acquiring education was a fundamental right of every child but, regretfully, the successive governments had failed to pay due attention to this sector.

He impressed upon officials of the education department to ensure proper education and training of children instead of endeavouring to show 100 per cent results in examinations.

The chief minister expressed his displeasure over the lethargy and neglect of the schools on the part of the officials concerned, and referred to the inspection register which showed that over the past five years, i.e. from 2002 to 2007, they had paid only three visits to the schools. He also asked the secretary education to ensure effective monitoring of the schools.

Earlier, Base commander Air Commodore Syed Najam informed the chief minister that at this biggest operation base of the PAF, there were six Urdu-medium schools functioning on its premises. Four of them are primary and two secondary schools. He said that a total of 1,772 students belonging to lower-class families were studying at these schools. He told the chief minister that the schools were facing problems like staff shortage, lack of furniture and absence of essential facilities, including drinking water and toilets. Nor was there a Science lab or library for the students, he added.

He said the schools immediately needed teachers, watchmen and sanity workers who should be appointed from among the people living at or around the base as people living far from the area appeared not interested in being posted here.

Dr Arbab accepted the request allowing the PAF to go ahead with the recruitment.

Later, the chief minister was given a briefing about the missiles and aircraft being used by the PAF.