12794 schools in Sindh shelter less, 34386 without electricity, 25237 lack water

Incoming government should boost education spending to spur economic growth

12794 schools in Sindh shelter less, 34386 without electricity, 25237 lack water

Islamabad: (May 23)

Incoming government should include education in its preferences to spur social development and economic growth, an educationist said Thursday.

Education budget should be increased by 100 per cent while special emphasis should be given to provide education to school-less children whose number has touched mark of 30 million, said Dr Naeem Ghani, Chairman Sultana Foundation.

Speaking at the meeting of managing board of the foundation, he said that government needs to act swiftly to bring to end the culture of ghost schools which is a big social problem and a drain on the national exchequer.

Tackling the problem of non-functioning schools will push up the standard of education across Pakistan as the funds being spent of them could be used at working schools, he said.

Dr Naeem Ghani said that education was the fundamental right of every Pakistani child as per constitutional provisions but situation on ground is different.

In the province of Sindh 12,794 schools are shelter less, 34,386 are without electricity,  26,669 do not have boundary walls, 23,349 do not possess a lavatory, and 25,237 have no access to drinking water, he informed.

The veteran educationist remarked that our system of education is not delivering, remedial efforts initiated on fire fighting basis aren’t sustainable while initiatives by NGOs leave much to be desired.

Thousands of schools have been converted into cattle pen, criminals are using schools for their activities while drug addicts break into the schools using empty classrooms to shoot heroin, even stripping metal grates and ceiling fans.

A number of schools have been abandoned for one reason or the other but monthly salaries are being dispersed which merits a probe as to how much funds are being spent in the name of imparting education.

There is no will on the part of education department to take back possessions of the occupied schools and fix responsibility, he lamented.

The incoming government must undertake a renewed commitment to improve education including an increased budget and the launching of new programs to make Pakistan a developed nation, demanded Ghani.