News Desk
Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah has urged private educational institutions to adopt a serious and responsible approach towards providing education to children in their mother tongue, stating that learning in one’s mother tongue is a fundamental right of every child. Appreciating the contribution of private educational institutions in educating approximately 4.2 million children across Sindh, he said the private sector was playing an important role in supporting the state’s responsibility to provide education, and those associated with it deserved respect and recognition. He expressed these views while addressing an event held at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, as the chief guest in connection with International Teachers’ Day. The event was organized by the All Sindh Private Schools and Colleges Association in collaboration with the Directorate of Inspection and Private Institutions Sindh.
The event was attended by Director General Inspection and Private Institutions Sindh Muhammad Afzal Ansari, Additional Director Rafia Mallah, Executive Director Sindh Teachers Education Development Authority Rasul Bakhsh Shah, Chairman All Sindh Private Schools and Colleges Association Syed Haider Ali, General Secretary Danish Baloch, Vice Chairman Muhammad Saleem, teachers from private schools and colleges across Sindh, students, and other education-sector representatives. Paying tribute to teachers for their professional services and dedication, the provincial minister said their role was fundamental to the promotion of education. He noted that private educational institutions were providing education to millions of children in Sindh, helping prevent a large number of children from remaining out of school. He said the government was aware of the challenges and issues faced by private schools and would take steps to address their legitimate concerns.
Accepting the demand of private schools for an extension in the validity of their registration, Syed Sardar Ali Shah announced that the registration period for private educational institutions would be extended from three years to five years. Emphasizing the importance of mother-tongue education, the Sindh Education Minister said private schools must fulfil their responsibility in this regard with due seriousness. Providing education to children in their mother tongue was not merely an important educational requirement but also a fundamental right, he said. He added that psychologists agreed that incorporating the mother tongue into education helped better develop children’s creativity and learning abilities. Expressing concern over the possible consequences of neglecting mother-tongue education, Syed Sardar Ali Shah said such an approach could lead to a situation in which future generations would neither be familiar with the poetry of Mirza Ghalib nor remain connected with the poetry and philosophy of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. He stressed that educational institutions must play an effective role by taking into account children’s linguistic, cultural and educational needs.
Commenting on the overall state of education in the country, the provincial minister said that despite the federal government’s declaration of an education emergency, tangible efforts were not visible. He observed that the declaration made in Islamabad had yet to translate into meaningful practical measures. He said 25 million children in Pakistan were out of school, describing the situation as a serious national challenge. Given the scale of the problem, he said, effective efforts at the federal level were needed. He stressed that the time had come for all relevant stakeholders to seriously consider solutions to this shared national challenge and fulfill their respective responsibilities. Speakers at the event also shared their views on the educational challenges faced by private schools. The event concluded with tributes to teachers for their services and professional dedication, while commemorative shields were presented to recognize their contributions.