KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said he values his teachers as much as his own parents, crediting them for guiding his path and helping him succeed in life.
Speaking at a ceremony held at the CM House, organised by the Sindh Education Department to award teaching licenses, he highlighted that respect for teachers must come with the responsibility of delivering quality education.
The event was attended by Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah, Livestock Minister Mohammad Ali Malkan, School Education Secretary Zahid Abbasi, diplomats, lawmakers, educationists, Shahzad Roy from Zindagi Trust, and civil society members.
Murad Ali Shah encouraged people to honour teachers, but also stressed that educators must fulfil their duty by teaching effectively.
He recalled that the idea of licensing teachers, first suggested by Education Minister Sardar Shah three years ago, was introduced to make sure teachers are both competent and accountable.
During the ceremony, the chief minister distributed licenses to 646 successful applicants, which included 297 Junior Elementary School Teachers and 195 pre-service teachers.
He pointed out that only 16 percent of the 4,000 candidates passed the test, underlining the urgent need to improve the education system.
Shah reaffirmed the government’s dedication to hiring qualified teachers through the Sindh Teacher Education Development Authority.
He also raised concerns over the high number of children not attending school, saying the focus should be on increasing enrollment as well as improving classroom learning.
Reflecting on the past, he said education standards have dropped over the last four to five decades. “There was a time when primary schools provided excellent education, but over the years, merit-based appointments have weakened,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, Education Minister Sardar Shah said introducing teacher licenses was a key step forward that took three years to implement.
“Change is welcome, but it must be effective,” he said, adding that the new system would help raise the quality of education.
Clearing up confusion, he said some people had wrongly assumed teaching licenses were like weapon permits.
In the past, teachers were hired without licenses to keep schools functioning, but now, new teachers will be trained before receiving licenses, and only those with licenses will be considered for appointments.
“Teaching should be seen as more than just a job, it is a service and a responsibility,” he stressed.
Other speakers at the event included Zahid Abbasi, Dr. Sajid Ali from Aga Khan University, Shahzad Roy, and Rasool Bux Shah, the Executive Director of STEDA.