Primary schoolgirls to get Rs1,000 stipend

Karachi: The Sindh Education Minister on Wednesday announced a stipend of Rs1,000 per annum for all female students between classes one to five for the next fiscal year.

Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq made the announcement while chairing a meeting between officials of the education department.

“This stipend is an incentive from the Government of Sindh to attract youngsters to acquire education and not to leave school prematurely,” Haq said.

Haq also noted that all female students from class 8 to class 10 are already receiving a stipend of Rs2,400 per annum and that it was “tragic” that youngsters’ discontinue their education after primary school.

He also pointed out that, at present, some 3.2 million youngsters are enrolled in government sector primary schools, but that there were only 900,000 children enrolled at the elementary level which, he said, “was a matter of concern.” The minister said that some 1,100 primary schools would be converted into elementary ones and that 500 elementary school into high schools.