TV channels to be used for educating children
KARACHI – Sindh Education Minister Dr Hamida Khoro on July 24 said education department has decided to use electronic media, especially TV channels for educating children in the province and for this purpose, educational programs will be purchased from other countries and broadcast after translating them into local languages.
Speaking at inauguration ceremony of a 4-day conference on “Policy and Planning of Education in Pakistan” organised by Standing Committee on Education of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) at Federation House Karachi today, she said education sector in Sindh was in such a poor condition that its performance could not be defended.
“What we have done in the past is preparation of policies and plans for boosting education sector and enhancing literacy but unfortunately we failed to implement those policies in letter and spirit” she said adding that without assistance from the private sector, this gigantic task cannot the accomplished.
She maintained that standard of education Sindh was very high before partition and even few years after independence but “good days have gone now” and now Sindh ranks third in the list of province after Punjab and NWFP in standard and quality of education.
Dr Khoro said situation has deteriorated so much that nowadays, teachers and students don’t come to public schools in Karachi while these schools also lack basic facilities like drinking water, lavatories, furniture and electricity. “In recent years, we have invested only in buildings instead of providing quality education to our children by emphasising on teachers’ training, better utilisation of funds and motivation of all concerned” she deplored.
According to her, owing to unavailability employment opportunities in the province, people have stopped sending their children to educational institutions and that’s why, the ratio of dropped out students after primary level has increased many folds.
“Unless we provide alternate sources of income to our youths except for government jobs, they won’t come to schools and educational institutions. The only way out is teaching them English language, after which they would be able to earn their livelihood themselves” she added.
In this connection, steps were being taken to introduce English language from class-I at government schools besides other local languages, she informed adding that teachers’ training will also be given importance.
“Unfortunately, we recruits graduates as teachers but don’t give them training to teach. Owing to that, these untrained teachers failed to any relationship with their students and we achieve nothing” she pointed out. She informed that donor agencies, especially USAID and European Commission were assisting Sindh government in this regard and also urged local private sector to come forward and extend its services in this regard.
Dr Khoro disclosed that education department has decided to use electronic media, especially TV channels for imparting education to children in the province as TV has become an essential component of every house in local society. “We will purchase educational TV programs from other countries and broadcast them after translating them into local languages, especially in Sindhi to educate our children living in rural areas of province” she disclosed and adding urged private TV channels to support the government in this regard.
Sindh Secretary Education Ghulam Ali Shah Pasha in his address told that education department was facing acute constraint of resources and due to that it was facing problems in teachers’ training, provision of basic facilities at public schools and providing quality education to children.
“We have decided to encourage denationalisation of educational institutions, which were nationalised by past governments in order to enhance public-private partnership” he disclosed adding that under adopt-a-school program, over 300 schools have been handed over to private sector organisations.
Giving details of steps taken by Sindh Education Department towards increasing standard of education in the province, he said teachers’ training programs have been launched with financial assistance from donor agencies, Schools Management Committees (SMCs) have established to increase community participation in educational affairs. President Riaz Ahmed Tata in his welcome address stressed for reviewing whole educational system in the province from pre-school till tertiary level to meet the requirements of knowledge-based economy.
Lauding organisers of the 4-day educational conference, he expressed the hope that 10 thematic areas to be focused in the conference will help in promoting education in the country and assured every possible cooperation in promoting technology-based education in the country. Chairman, FPCCI Standing Committee on Education Siddique Shaikh, Chief Executive of Faran Educational Society Riaz Ahmed, foreign educationist Mr. Davis and Sardar Yaseen Malik also spoke.
During the 4-day educational conference several papers will be presented by educationists, academicians and researchers on various themes including quality education, early childhood education, primary/elementary education, secondary/higher secondary education, technical education, special education, Madrassa education, literacy and skill development, higher and professional education and public and private partnership.
The conference will be concluded on Tuesday July 27, 2004 with a declaration to be signed by participants while a comprehensive report will also be produced based on recommendations of the conference. Federal Education Minister Ms Zobaida Jalal will be the chief guest the closing ceremony of the conference on Tuesday, July 27, 2004.
Source: The Nation
Date:7/25/2004
” 
” 
” 
” 
