KARACHI: Sindh Education Minister Sardar Shah has announced a reduction of one hour in school timings across the province.
The minister announced the decision through a post shared on his official Facebook account. The change is expected to provide some relief to students, teachers and parents by reducing the duration of the school day.
The announcement comes as Sindh’s education sector continues to face several challenges, including a large number of out-of-school children, inadequate infrastructure and rising operational costs.
Speaking at an event in Karachi, Sardar Shah acknowledged that the provincial authorities had been unable to develop and implement a uniform education policy. He described the large number of children who remain out of school as one of the biggest challenges facing the education system.
The minister highlighted the scale of the infrastructure damage caused by floods, saying that the walls of around 20,000 schools were damaged. He stressed the need for greater investment in education and called on the federal government to provide funds for educational centers through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
According to the minister, Pakistan remains among the countries that spend the least on education. He said greater financial resources were needed to improve educational facilities, repair damaged schools and expand access to education for children across the country.
Sardar Shah also discussed the role of community-based education centers in providing learning opportunities to children who may not have access to conventional schools. He said millions of children are currently being educated through such community-based centers.
However, rising inflation has created additional difficulties for these educational initiatives. The minister pointed out that the cost of operating education centers has increased significantly as prices continue to rise.
The rising expenses are placing additional pressure on an already constrained education system. Educational centers require funding for teachers, learning materials, buildings, utilities and other essential services, all of which have become more expensive amid inflation.
The minister’s remarks underscored the need for increased public investment and coordinated policies to address Sindh’s education challenges. He emphasized that tackling the out-of-school children crisis requires sustained financial support and effective planning.
The reduction in school timings is the latest administrative decision concerning the province’s education sector. While the immediate measure will shorten the school day by one hour, the broader challenges identified by the education minister—including damaged infrastructure, inadequate funding, inflation and the large number of out-of-school children—remain significant issues for the provincial government.
Sardar Shah’s call for federal funding through the PSDP also highlights the financial pressures facing provincial education authorities. Additional resources could help rebuild flood-damaged schools and strengthen alternative education programs, particularly community-based centers serving children in underserved areas.
The minister has also stressed the importance of developing a more consistent education policy to improve outcomes across Sindh. The province continues to face disparities in access to education, with many children unable to attend formal schools.
The one-hour reduction in school timings is therefore being announced against the backdrop of broader efforts and challenges within Sindh’s education system. Further details regarding the implementation of the revised timings, including the applicable schedule and effective date, will depend on the education department’s official instructions.
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