2023 proves bad year for education in Sindh

In a turbulent year for Sindh education, 2023 saw a succession of failures, setbacks and disappointment, indicating a disturbing pattern of ad hocism affecting the province's universities and education boards.

Merit appeared to have taken a back seat, with political appointments compromising educational institutions' integrity.

Despite grandiose claims of spending billions of rupees and major funding from international donor agencies to improve Sindh's education system, a significant number of government schools had delays in getting needed textbooks. The government's dedication to the cause was called into question, especially in the light of unfulfilled pledges despite billions of dollars invested and international support obtained.

The sudden turnover of leadership at the Sindh Textbook Board with three chairs ousted in a single year highlighted the lack of seriousness. This pattern of insecurity extended to frequent changes in key posts such as chairmen and test controllers across educational boards.

The ongoing manipulation of matriculation and intermediate results generated major doubts about the school system's legitimacy since changes to outcomes continued throughout the year. The Mirpurkhas Board's unwillingness to perform a supplementary examination for students who had not passed heightened fears.

Administratively, 26 institutions struggled to hire finance directors, while other universities remained without permanent vice chancellors. Instead of instituting reforms, the caretaker government chose to carry on the policies of its predecessor.

The caretaker government also could not prove many problems in the education sector. The caretaker government's apparent neglect of the education sector is illustrated by the chief minister's three attempts to organise meetings with vice chancellors, each of which was postponed.

The Shikarpur University and Law University in Sindh are currently without permanent vice chancellors, and the appointment of registrars, controllers of examinations, and finance directors in any university in Sindh is pending, leaving the educational system in a state of uncertainty and disarray.