Sindh Education Crisis: 92% of Budget Spent on Salaries, Minister Reveals.

In a candid address to the Sindh Assembly, Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah revealed a critical structural crisis in the provincial education sector, noting that 92% of the total budget is consumed solely by salaries and pensions. This leaves less than 8% for essential educational resources, school maintenance, and infrastructural development.

Critical Findings in Sindh Education

The Minister’s report highlighted several severe challenges facing the province’s schools:

• Budget Misallocation: The focus of the department has shifted toward being an “employment source,” with teacher recruitment significantly exceeding initial plans, leaving little for students.
• Unsafe Infrastructure: In Karachi alone, 233 schools have been declared dangerous, with an estimated Rs 4,156 million required for urgent repairs.
• Resource Gaps: There is a significant lack of libraries and science laboratories across the province.
• Gender Disparity: Enrollment for girls remains alarmingly low at only 42%.
• Teacher Distribution: While recruitment is high, over 5,000 schools remain closed due to a lack of teachers in specific areas, while others are overstaffed.

Calls for Reform

Minister Sardar Shah emphasized the urgent need to transition back to a student-centered learning system. Key proposals discussed in the assembly include:

• Rationalizing teacher placements to reopen closed schools.
• Increasing the allocation for school development and learning materials.
• Addressing the multi-billion rupee funding gap required to make Karachi’s unsafe schools habitable.

Disclaimer: This post is intended solely for informational purposes and reflects official statements made in the Sindh Assembly. It does not represent personal views. Note that the background image is AI-generated and used for illustrative reference only. For official policy details, please refer to the Sindh Education and Literacy Department.