KARACHI – A report issued by Sindh education department paints a gloomy picture of the state of education in Sindh province, laying bare the claims of the Pakistan Peoples Party-led provincial government of having brought significant reforms in the education system.
According to the latest figures compiled by the education department, more than 5,000 schools are still closed in the province even after the passage of ample time since the Asif Ali Zardari-led PPP took over the reins of power in the province in 2008.
The report highlights the number of students in government schools is decreasing while that of teachers increasing.
It blames the deteriorating condition of education in the province on political meddling. According to the report, as many as 100,000 (one lac) students dropped out of government schools across the province, but the number of teachers increased to 1.4 million.
On the one hand, a large number of schools are closed, on other, those open lacked most of the basic facilities.
The report says 23,000 schools of the province lacked electricity, while 99 percent of schools are deprived of labs and 75 percent lacking playgrounds.
A hefty amount of funds earmarked for education in the budget is gobbled up by the salaries of government employees, report claims.
