World Bank Team Visits Quaid-e-Azam's School In Karachi

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2017 ) : A high level World Bank delegation visited Church Mission School (CMS) Government Higher Secondary School here on Saturday. The delegation was briefed on the implementation of ongoing education reforms that Government of Sindh was implementing in the province with the support of WB.

An official of the Sindh Education Department said that the team was given an update on the school progress by the Head Teacher, and an overall reform update by Secretary School Education Department, Government of Sindh.

The WB deelegation comprised of Vice President for the South Asian Region Annette Dixon, Chief Executive Officer of the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA) Kristalina Georgieva, Director, Strategy and Operations Franz R.Drees-Gross, Country Director for Pakistan, Illangovan Patchamuthu and Senior Education Specialist Umbreen Arif.

It was informed that due to reform efforts of the Education School Department the school infrastructure was improved, eight schools functioning in the same vicinity were consolidated into one school and a head teacher was posted for the consolidated Campus school.

Now the school has a student strength of 1,500, with more than 480 girls. The Government is providing funds to the school through the School Management Committee grant and School Specific Budget, solar panels have been provided to counter the shortage of electricity.

The most important outcome of the reform efforts has been an improvement in the learning outcomes of the children, showing a significant increase in test scores of Grade 5, 8, 9 and 10 exams. While briefing team members, Secretary, School Education Department Jamal Mustafa Syed, said that SED has made significant progress in key reforms across Sindh.

This school is one of the best examples that showcases all key education reforms of the Government. Some of the important ongoing reforms include School Consolidation Policy, School infrastructure development, merit based recruitment of teachers, girls' stipend, free distribution of textbooks, teachers' training and school management committee grants.

Further, a presentation was given to the delegation about achievements being made through Sindh School Monitoring System (SSMS) at school. The SSMS has played a pivotal role in improving overall education governance in Sindh.

Within a short span of one and half year this historic school has been turned around. Some of the notable alumni include founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and several cricket legends like Hanif Muhammad, Javed Miandad and Haroon Rashid. The team appreciated the efforts of School Education Department and congratulated CMS management for transforming the school.