Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah has set an ambitious goal for new student admissions in Sindh, aiming to surpass 800,000 for the current academic year. Speaking as a special guest at an event organized by the Sindh Education Department at a private hotel in Karachi on Monday, he highlighted the integration of tree planting into the duties of headmasters. This initiative emphasizes the importance of environmental responsibility within schools.
Shah outlined the increased target for this year to raise the enrollment ratio by over 800,000, focusing on community engagement to enhance the school enrollment system’s effectiveness. The event, themed “Launch of Sindh Enrollment & Retention Drive 2024-25,” was attended by notable figures, including the Sindh Secretary of School Education, UNICEF Pakistan Representative Abdullah Fadal, Chief Field Officer UNICEF Prem Bahadur Chand, JICA’s K Abid Gill, Director Operations NCHD Humira Hashmi, Chief Programme Manager RSU Dr. Junaid Samoon, and various district officers of the Education Department. They discussed multiple proposals to sustain and increase school enrollment, emphasizing the crucial role of community participation. Minister Sardar Ali Shah announced that the enrollment target has been revised from 800,000 to 900,000 for this year. He also noted that the recruitment of teachers in Sindh has addressed the teacher shortage, leading to the reopening of over 7,000 schools. Currently, 5.2 million children are enrolled in government schools, four million in private schools, 927,000 in Sindh Education Foundation schools, and 57,000 in non-formal education.
According to the constitution, providing free education to children aged 5 to 16 is the state’s responsibility. However, given the current resource constraints and other challenges, social cooperation is crucial. The enrollment drive in Sindh is set to start on August 16, utilizing all available resources to ensure its effectiveness. The education minister also stressed that headmasters will be pivotal in community engagement, ensuring children’s enrollment and supporting their continued education alongside parents. Moreover, the responsibility of planting trees in schools will be incorporated into the headmasters’ performance evaluations. Representatives from UNICEF, JICA, and other partner organizations also shared their views and suggestions during the event. Later, the education minister visited scientific model exhibits by students from various government schools, commending their efforts. International and local institutions collaborating with the Sindh Education Department praised the department’s recent reforms.
