Sindh CM Orders Enrolment Drive to Fill New Schools -

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the School Education Department, district administrations and Education Management Organisations (EMOs) to launch a province-wide community mobilisation and enrolment campaign to ensure that newly constructed and rehabilitated schools under the Sindh Secondary Education Improvement Project (SSEIP) become fully operational from their first day.

Chairing a review meeting on EMOs at the CM House, Murad Ali Shah said the government had made major investments in education infrastructure, but the success of these projects would ultimately depend on enrolling children and keeping them in school. He directed officials to prepare district-wise enrolment plans before the completion of schools and involve elected representatives, local leaders, parents, school management committees and community organisations.

Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah told the meeting that 838 schools are being constructed, upgraded or rehabilitated under the Asian Development Bank-supported SSEIP. The programme includes 116 new secondary schools and 722 climate-resilient schools being rebuilt under the flood rehabilitation component. Together, these projects are expected to create educational opportunities for nearly 250,000 children, particularly in underserved and flood-affected areas.

The minister said 257 schools are expected to be completed by December 2026, with the number rising to 611 by June 2027 and the remaining schools targeted for completion by the end of 2027. Under the original SSEIP, 64 of the 116 secondary schools are scheduled for completion by December 2026 and the remaining 52 by June 2027.

The chief minister directed the Education Department to establish measurable targets for enrolment, retention and learning outcomes and submit operationalisation plans for each school before completion. He said the government was also focusing on girls and educationally deprived districts by providing facilities including science and computer laboratories, digital libraries, solar power systems and girls’ common rooms.

The meeting was also informed that procurement for the first batch of 40 schools has begun, while additional schools will be handed over to EMOs in phases. Officials said the partnerships are aimed at improving school management, accountability, enrolment, attendance and learning outcomes.

Murad Ali Shah stressed that the government’s education strategy went beyond constructing buildings and called for every completed school to become a functioning centre of learning for children in its surrounding communities. – ERMD

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