Department of College Education Sindh organized a function to distribute offer letters to the lecturers who passed Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) examination.
Minister of Education and Mining and Mineral Development Syed Sardar Ali Shah participated as a special guest in this event held at the Scouts Hall in Karachi. During the ceremony, 833 new lecturers were given their offer letters by the provincial education minister.
Speaking at the event, he emphasized the importance of college education in the lives of students while announcing the introduction of A-level classes in some government colleges. He said that this initiative would enable government college students to improve and showcase their skills in competitive fields.
Secretary College Education Asif Ikram, Director General Colleges Dr Naveed Rab Siddiqui and other officials also participated in the event. Addressing the newly inducted lecturers, the minister welcomed them to the department and hoped that they would serve this prestigious profession with dedication. “Being a teacher is a great responsibility, because teachers are the architects of our future,” he remarked.
The Minister further said that all the 374 colleges of Sindh are very important and it is imperative to ensure active educational activities in each college. He emphasized on the importance of imparting education to students from backward areas with dedication like their own children. We cannot post all the teachers in urban centers. “Teaching should be seen as a responsibility rather than just a job,” he added.
Shah urged the new teachers to learn from their past lives and adopt a mindset that treats all students equally, regardless of background. He highlighted the important role of college teachers in preparing students for universities and developing a mindset ready for constructive thinking and questioning.
Reiterating the plan to introduce A-level classes in government colleges, he said that this step would increase development opportunities for disadvantaged students. On the occasion, Secretary College Education Asif Ikram revealed that 1,659 vacancies have been sent to SPSC out of which 1,357 eligible candidates have been recommended. Of these, 833 candidates were issued offer letters after completing the verification process.
He said that the number of computer science lecturers was increased in Mirpurkhas region on the instructions of the Education Minister. Offer letters were distributed for seven subjects including 282 for Computer Science, 219 for Sindhi, 119 for Botany, 106 for Mathematics, 80 for Statistics, 14 for Chemistry, and 13 for Psychology.
Speaking to the media, the Education Minister highlighted the ongoing need for reforms in the education sector, particularly in schools and colleges. “Wherever improvement is possible, we must continue our journey in that direction,” he said. He said that the positive results of the recruitment of qualified teachers have started to emerge.
He also mentioned that 2024 is being celebrated as “Science in Sindh”, emphasizing the importance of promoting science education to encourage critical thinking and reasoning. The curriculum is also being updated, as revision is necessary every five years.
In response to a question, the minister revealed plans to restructure the administrative structure of the education department by eliminating redundant posts. He also highlighted efforts to help out-of-school children through accelerated and non-formal education programs and reduce dropout rates through school upgrades.
Regarding the flood-damaged schools, the minister said that 20,000 schools have been affected and reconstruction through the provincial budget is still challenging. Despite limited support from the federal government under the PSDP, the process has been delayed by court-issued injunctions. He asked the courts to consider the stand of the department before issuing such orders. The minister also mentioned plans to introduce preparation sessions for students before the board exams.