**Sindh Awards 646 Teaching Licenses, Reaffirming Commitment to Educational Quality and Professionalism**
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has awarded teaching licenses to 646 successful candidates, marking a significant milestone in the province’s efforts to enhance educational standards and professionalize the teaching sector. At a ceremony held in Karachi, Shah emphasized that teachers hold a role of vital importance, equating the respect due to them with that given to parents, and called on educators to earn this respect by delivering quality education.
During the event, held at the Chief Minister’s House and attended by government officials, educationists, civil society representatives, and development partners, Murad Ali Shah expressed his profound gratitude to all stakeholders committed to educational advancement in Sindh. Stressing that high-quality education depends on high-quality teachers, Shah noted that Sindh allocates the largest portion of its provincial budget to education, but affirmed that even greater investment is necessary to meet the challenges ahead. “To increase this spending, we must generate more resources; it is not possible otherwise,” he stated.
Shah recalled that the initiative to issue teaching licenses was first proposed by Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah three years ago with the aim of promoting competency and accountability in the teaching profession. Of the 4,000 candidates who applied, only 646 passed the rigorous examination process—a pass rate of just 16 percent—highlighting the need for sustained efforts to raise educational standards.
The Chief Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to recruiting and developing highly qualified educators through the Sindh Teacher Education Development Authority (STEDA). He voiced concern that millions of children in Sindh remain out of school and underscored the importance of evaluating the quality of education received by those enrolled. “How can we prepare children to live a good life in a competitive world?” Shah asked, acknowledging decades of decline in educational quality and calling for merit-based teacher appointments.
Addressing operational challenges, Shah reassured attendees that all resources would be deployed to support increased school attendance. He also recognized community concerns regarding the teacher recruitment process and stressed the importance of fairness in educational opportunities. Looking forward, Shah expressed his ambition to eventually extend the teaching license initiative to private and early childhood education institutions, while acknowledging that logistical obstacles remain.
“This is not the end, but the beginning of a new era for teaching professionalism in Sindh,” Shah said, urging all stakeholders to work collaboratively to build a brighter future for the province through education.
Minister of Education Syed Sardar Shah also addressed the gathering, celebrating the realization of a vision conceived three years prior. He argued that while change is necessary, it must be effective, and emphasized that the introduction of teaching licenses would be transformative for the education system. Shah dispelled misconceptions about the licenses, clarifying that, unlike in the past, all new teachers would now be required to undergo training and obtain a license before deployment. “Teaching should be viewed not merely as a job, but as a service and a responsibility,” Sardar Shah stressed, highlighting the central role of trained teachers in shaping the next generation.
Other speakers at the event included Secretary Education Zahid Abbasi, Dr. Sajid Ali of Aga Khan University, Shahzad Raoi of Zindagi Trust, and STEDA Executive Director Rasool Bux Shah, all of whom reinforced the need for ongoing commitment to educational improvement and teacher professionalism in Sindh.
The event concluded with renewed optimism that the licensed educators will inspire future generations and drive progress throughout the province’s education system.
