Karachi:
The Federal Ministry of Education has launched 100 new MAT schools (community-based schools) in Metropolis during its “non-formal education” initiative. Federal Minister of Education Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui inaugurated the project at a ceremony held on Saturday at Liaquat Library.
Non-formula Director of Education Hameed Khan Niazi of Directorate General of Basic Education Community Schools (BECS) said the initiative follows the BECS model, where the primary curriculum from class I to V is completed within 30 months. He said that through the efforts of the federal minister, a package of 100 such schools has been introduced in Metropolitan City.
He explained the model and said that schools are set up in community houses to ease children outside the school. The Ministry has delivered mats for seating together with all important teaching material. Children between the ages of 8 and 16 are eligible for registration. After completing the program, they can sit for Class V exam and also choose technical education. Teacher education for these schools begins from October 1st.
Dr. Siddiqui, who was looking for the ceremony, said it was responsible for all elected representatives, including themselves, to ensure that these schools are maintained. He noted that although hundreds of such schools already existed in districts such as Badin, Qambar and Ghotki, Karachi had previously only 35 and Hyderabad none.
