Sindh govt signs accords to improve US-funded schools

Karachi

The Sindh education and literacy department on Saturday signed agreements with two organisations to manage the first group of schools constructed under the US Agency for International Development's (USAID) Sindh Basic Education Programme.

The management agreements - with the Institute of Business Administration Sukkur and the Charter for Compassion Pakistan - apply to four schools in Khairpur and Sukkur districts.

As part of its $165 million contribution to the Sindh Basic Education Programme, USAID is funding the construction and management of a total of 106 schools in Khairpur, Sukkur, Dadu, Qamber-Shahdadkot, Kashmore-Kandhkot, Jacobabad, and Larkana as well as in five towns of Karachi.

American Ambassador David Hale, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Pakistan People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, US Consul General in Karachi Brian Heath and USAID Provincial Director Craig Buck attended the signing ceremony.

"Our hope is that working with teachers, staff, and local communities, these new partnerships will introduce innovations, help modernise the education system, and strengthen human resources," Ambassador Hale said.

He added that true and lasting development started with education. "Support for education is one of America's top priorities in Pakistan. USAID is cooperating with Pakistan to carry out Pakistan's comprehensive education programmes to help millions of children and young adults rise as far in life as their hard work and initiative will take them."

The chief minister said that the government had started teacher training programmes and launched incentives programmes to encourage parents to send their daughters to school, adding that that Rs2500 were given to girl students in remote rural areas.

He said more girls in Sindh were attending educational institutes as compared to past and the girls ratio in medical colleges had almost reached to 75 percent.

He thanked the USA ambassador and the consul general for their support and contribution.

Education minister Nisar Khuhro said he was thankful to the US government for helping the government in improving the education sector.

He said the schools built under the construction of the 106 schools programme were being handed over to the two organisations, which would be responsible for the management and imparting quality education.

Earlier, secretary education Fazal Pechuho welcomed the guests and briefed the participants about the USAID initiatives.