Karachi:
Sindh’s prime minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, has said that he respects his teachers as much as he respects his parents because they shaped their future and allowed him to compete effectively in his field and emphasized that teachers must win this type of respect in providing an adequate education to their students.
This said, while talking at the ceremony to grant teaching licenses to successful candidates organized by the SNDH Department of Education here in CM House on Tuesday.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Education, Syed Sardar Shah, Minister of Livestock Mohammad Ali Malkan, Secretary (School Education) Zahid Abbasi, diplomats, MPA, educators, Shahzad Raoi de Zindagi Trust and members of civil society.
The prime minister urged all citizens to honor their teachers and satisfy their thirst for knowledge through the reverence of these educators, emphasizing that respect must be gained by delivering quality education to students.
Shah recalled that three years ago, Sardar Shah proposed the idea of issuing teaching licenses.
He mentioned: “It was said that licenses should be given to those who are shaping our future,” describing this initiative as a vital step to guarantee competence and responsibility within the teaching profession.
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah granted 646 successful candidates, including 297 pre-service licenses and 195.
He stressed that only 646 of 4,000 candidates approved the test, reflecting a low success rate of approximately 16 percent. He commented: “We have a lot of work to do to improve educational standards.”
Murad Ali Shah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to introduce highly qualified educators through the Teaching Education Authority of Sindh (Steda).
In addition, he raised concerns that millions of children were out of school and emphasized the need to evaluate the quality of education provided to those who are enrolled.
He questioned: “How can we prepare children to live a good life in a competitive world?” When addressing the long -term decrease in educational quality, Murad Shah said: “The education system has gradually deteriorated in the last 40 or 50 years.”
He recalled a time when primary schools provided excellent education and pointed out the disparity in the quotes of the teachers based on merit.
The Minister of Education of Sindh, Sardar Shah, who addresses the teaching license]said that today marks a cheerful day for him, as a dream planned three years ago has become a reality.
“The change is welcome, but it is essential that it be effective,” said the minister. The minister stressed that the implementation of teaching licenses would bring significant improvements to the education system.
Referring to erroneous concepts, he said that some people believed that licenses were similar to weapons permits for teachers.
“Initially, we recruit teachers without licenses, since directing schools was our priority,” he explained.
In the future, all newly recruited teachers will undergo training before receiving licenses. Only licensed teachers will be appointed in future recruitments, he confirmed.
“Teaching should be seen not only as a job but as a service and responsibility,” said Minister Sardar Shah.
Those who spoke on the occasion were the Secretary Education Zahid Abbasi, Dr. Sajid Ali of the Aga Khan University, Shahzad Raoi, executive director of Steda Rasool Bux Shah.
