KARACHI, Sept 9: As many as 234 more non-formal schools will be set up in Sindh this year, secretary education Nazar Hussain Mahar told this news agency on the occasion of the World Literacy Day.

He said 711 such schools were already functioning in the province. The primary education has already been declared compulsory in the province.

The Sindh education department has announced an award scheme for the teachers.

On the basis of performance, the best teacher award of Rs20,000 each will be given in each district to one teacher each of elementary, secondary, higher secondary, college, technical and teachers education.

Besides, one award of Rs25,000 in each district and one teacher of the province award of Rs100,000 will be given. The awards will be distributed on Oct 5 on the occasion of the teachers day.

COMPUTER LABS: The government has initiated a bold step for establishing computer labs on a self-help basis in the educational institutions.

A spokesman for the Sindh education department said 144 colleges in the province have their own computer labs.

The cities and the number of colleges with computer labs are: Karachi 82, Hyderabad 10, Badin 4, Nawabshah 5, Naushehro Feroze 5, Sanghar 6, Dadu 1, Tharparkar 1, Ghotki 3, Sukkur 4, Shikarpur 2, Jacobabad 2, Larkana 5, Mirpurkhas 5 and Khairpur 9.—APP/PPI