Sindh Education and Mines and Minerals Development Minister, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, has revealed plans to prioritize science education and combat dropout rates in the province. Addressing a meeting organized by the Sindh Education Foundation, he directed the phased elevation of primary schools to the elementary level and declared the upcoming academic year as the “Year of Science.”
Minister Sardar Ali Shah highlighted the importance of science education for students and emphasized the need to upgrade primary schools to facilitate ongoing education and reduce dropout rates. Currently, there are 36,224 government primary schools in Sindh, which will be upgraded in phases.
Additionally, the minister stressed the significance of science literacy and announced plans to promote it through various initiatives such as science fairs, competitions, and educational activities in collaboration with government and private schools under the Sindh Education Foundation.
Under the People’s School Program, in collaboration with private partners, 34 English medium and general schools have been established. Learning centers will also be established to provide training and education to children and youth, benefiting 15,000 individuals across Sindh. Minister Sardar Ali Shah reiterated the commitment to improving non-formal education methods through the establishment of the Non-Formal Education Authority, aimed at providing accelerated education to out-of-school children.
The Sindh Education Foundation’s budget for the current year is 1.5 billion rupees, with allocations for various programs including training, scholarship programs, and the People’s School Program.