International News

KARACHI, (APP): The Consul General Brian Heath in Karachi
and Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, inaugurated a
state-of-the-art school constructed under the US Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Sindh Basic Education Programme (SBEP) at Kouro Goth, in District Khairpur.
A US Consulate statement on Thursday said that this school is
just one of over 100 state-of-the-art facilities that USAID is
constructing in partnership with the Government of Sindh.
The US Consul General Heath pointed out that the United States
government strongly supports education in Pakistan.
He said that he was delighted that the school and others like it
will provide young boys and girls with a space to learn and to grow so
they can help Pakistan unlock its full potential.
According to Mission Director of USAID Pakistan, John Groarke,
the USAID has helped rebuild or renovate more than 1,000 schools over
the last five years. In many of the schools, USAID has also supplied
computers, science kits, books, and other educational materials.
The USAID-funded SBEP will construct approximately 106 modern
school buildings at a cost of approximately Rs.16 billion over five
years in seven districts of northern Sindh and five towns in Karachi.
Currently over 50 schools are under construction.
Ambassador Richard Olson and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah broke
ground at the Kouro Goth school in 2014.
It is the first of four schools that will be completed and handed
over this month.
Aside from construction, SBEP aims to increase and sustain
student enrollment in primary, middle, and secondary public schools in
selected areas of Sindh.
The Education and Literacy Department of the Government of Sindh
is providing additional support of over Rs.1 billion and the
Department has already signed agreements with two organizations to
manage four schools in Khairpur and Sukkur districts.
USAID Senior Policy Advisor and Program Manager of SBEP Dr. Randy
Hatfield, Education Minister Nisar Khuhro and Secretary of Education
Dr. Fazlullah Pechuho, teachers, students and members of the community
also attended the ceremony along with other senior district and
provincial officials.