Sindh to take control of 4,192 Centre-run informal schools

Sindh’s chief minister has approved the proposal to bring 4,192 informal schools being run by the federal government under the control of the provincial administration.

In the 42nd session of the Council of Common Interests on July 18, 2020, it was decided that the provincial governments would take over the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) and basic education community schools from June 30, 2021.

During a meeting he chaired on Thursday, CM Syed Murad Ali Shah also decided that after taking control of the informal schools, the provincial government will increase the salaries of their teachers from Rs8,000 to Rs25,000.

Education Minister Saeed Ghani told the chief executive that 4,192 schools and education centres with 4,425 teachers and 236,755 students will come under provincial control.

They include 1,463 basic education community schools for sustainable development with 1,463 teachers and 61,118 students, and 2,729 NCHD literacy centres with 2,962 teachers and 175,637 students.

The CM was told that these schools are being run under the informal education system, under which the teachers are working on a voluntary basis against a remuneration of Rs8,000 a month.

Shah said the provincial government has already announced fixing the minimum wage at Rs25,000 a month, so these volunteers will be paid a monthly salary of Rs25,000. A representative of the finance department pointed out that if the salaries of 4,425 teachers are increased from Rs8,000 to Rs25,000, it will have a financial implication of Rs1.3275 billion. The CM, however, approved the amount and directed the department to submit a relevant summary.

He also directed the officials of the School Education & Literacy Department to take control of the schools and make them functional with the same teaching staff.

“After some time an opportunity may be provided to the teachers to take a test, and those who qualify will be inducted as regular staff members.” He ordered the education department to assess the requirements of these schools in terms of furniture, water, toilets, electricity and other essentials, and ensure their provision.

The meeting was also attended by CM’s law adviser Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Ali Shah, CM’s principal secretary Sajid Jamal Abro, School Education Secretary Ahmed Bux Narejo, Inter-Provincial Coordination Secretary Asif Ikram, Finance Special Secretary Bilal Memon and others.