Moalims

Islamabad - The student enrolment drops with increase in class level and dropout rate is higher in girls schools. This was revealed on the launch of a budget tracking social accountability study in education titled “Do Schools Get Money?” The research study by Pakistan Coalition for Education (PCE) covered 24 districts, Punjab (10 districts), Sindh (6 districts), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (5 districts), Balochistan (2 districts) and Azad Kashmir (1 district). The data was collected from a total of 2,312 schools, of which 1,376 were boys’ schools and 716 were girls’ schools. Information pertaining to student enrolment and attendance, teacher demographics, school management councils’ (SMC) structure and missing facilities was gathered from all these schools.
The study found that student enrolment fell from an average class size of 24 students per class in class one to only 13 students per class in class five. The average class size for boys’ schools was 24 students in class one and only 14 students in class five. On average, enrolment in girls schools’ was also 24 in class one which dropped to 12 in class five. The research study brought forward many other interesting insights regarding make-up of the SMC and the facilities available in the schools across Pakistan. It was found in the study that more than half of the schools surveyed had only one teacher to teach all classes. About 37 percent primary schools in Sindh and 36 percent in Balochistan are only one-teacher schools.
Almost half of the surveyed schools in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa do not have toilet facility – the situation is even worse in other provinces, it said.
It was also found that 61 percent schools reported to hold school council meetings on monthly basis. Looking at this finding it can be ascertained that despite being fairly regular in terms of holding regular meetings, these school management committees could not be effective. Therefore there is a need for the capacity building of these management committees which could result them in being more proactive towards issues like teacher absenteeism and ineffective resource use.
The utilisation of funds was another aspect which the study attempted to delve into. It was found that a considerable portion of funds consumed were used on new installations. The other major usage categories were repair and maintenance (23% utilization) and whitewash (9% utilization).
This meant that there were insufficient funds left for basic facilities such as toilets. Only 43 percent of the schools had usable toilet facilities. Such facts, as highlighted in the research show the level of governance issues which mar the public primary education system which was discussed in the research study launch.
During the launch event, a panel discussion was also held which featured prominent discussants from the government agencies as well as the international organizations working in the education sector.
Open Society Foundations’ senior programme officer, Nargis Sultana said studies like these formed the basis for more informed decisions and policies which precisely focused on the problems plaguing the public sector education system.
PCE national coordinator, Zehra Arshad stressed upon regular stock taking of school council’s working and tracking of school council budget. She said it will help improve the working of school council which will help improve learning levels eventually.

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