Education is Right not Privilege

Campaign against Ghost Teachers and Non-functional Schools at district Matiari- Sindh

As RDHR believes that education is a fundamental human right and a foundation for an enlightened society, RDHR with its partners, Action aid Pakistan and SRDS, has been working on Education Campaign, Education is right not privilege. Keeping in view the situation of education in Sindh, the campaign is against ghost teachers and non-functional schools in two Union Councils of District Matiari of Sindh as a model Union Councils. However, advocacy interventions are also planed to make the campaign result oriented.
The goal of the RDHR’s Education Program is to make a significant contribution to the achievement of education for all in its operation areas. We aim to improve the quality and delivery of services in education appropriate to the needs of poor children, in particular girls, and to increase their access to those services. Our purpose is to help fill the remaining gaps in coverage, retention, and quality of primary basic education.
In Education campaign, the aim is to make a model of functional primary schools where school improvement Plan (SIP) is maintained regularly and teacher’s attendance issue is resolved. The campaign has been moving forward with extensive exchange of ideas of local stakeholders through wider participation. Objectives of the campaign are very specific to achieve targeted outcomes at provincial level. The awareness campaign raised its graph line with involvement of people.

Background of the District Matiari

District Matiari was notified as a district on April 4, 2005 before that it used to be part of Hyderabad District, The area is 1417 sp: kilometers and population consists on 615,320 souls. A portion of land constitute Matiari forest named Matiarko used to spread over 28,541 acres out of which 17000 acres have been cut down by local inhabitant to earn livelihood. The district administratively divided into three talukas named by Hala, Matiari and Saeedabad. As the birthplace of Sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and the Makhdoom family, Matiari has a special significance. The district is mainly inhabited by traders and businessmen, civil servants and growers. The sole sugar mill running in Matiari is owned by the Jamotes, a prominent feudal clan.

Campaign Approach

Provision of quality education is a duty of Government; besides it is a right of poor people to benefit from the deliverable. The campaign is designed in accordance to right based approach, and the education campaign is designed to support peaceful environment. Any violent act is discouraged during planning and implementation of the campaign activities. However, the challenging situation has been dealt with strong negotiations and conducting a process of sensitization.
Objective of Campaign

• Regularize ghost teachers in two UCs of District Matiari by the end of the campaign.
• Functionalize non-functional schools by developing social pressure through involving politicians, print and electronic media in two UCs of Matiari by the end of the campaign.
• Promotion of information regarding importance of quality education in the target area through print and electronic media among communities, opinion leaders, local representatives and concern agents.
• Demand is to generate among masses of target area regarding qualitative education
• Sensitize populace of target area about the role of education service providers and ideally required situation.

Activities for Campaign

• Baseline survey
• Formation of SIP (School Improvement Plan) of the targeted schools and share with Media and local district Administration
• Consultative Meeting with Teacher's Organization GSTA/PTA/SPLA
• Exposure Visit of Hyderabad and Matiari based Journalists (20 Journalist) to the schools in UCs
• Consultative Meetings with Journalist of District Matiari to highlight issues that initiate quality education and help to solve problems faced by schools
• Consultative Meetings with Journalist of District Hyderabad to highlight issues faced by schools
• Consultative Meetings with Editors / Channels Head/Anchor Persons to highlight issues that benefit quality education
• Printing of IEC Material (Hand Bills, Stickers, Pan flax and 20 Cloth Banners) and one Large Banner regarding importance of quality education
• Signature Campaign
• Consultative Meetings with elected Members and Education Administration of District Matiari regarding problems and issues
• Documentary of situation of schools
• Press Conferences and Briefings regarding importance of quality education and its effect on future generation
• Arrange two conferences with Ministers/ secretary education/ Chief Minister of Sindh
• Consultative Meetings with local district administrations, concern SMCs and community members of District Hyderabad highlighting issues faced by schools and initiate quality education
• Social Mobilization
• Photography of Program Activities/ CDs
• Community Involvement