Sindh's government has contracted out 32 schools to private parties.

KARACHI: On Monday, the Sindh government finalized agreements with private sector education management organizations (EMOs) to outsource 32 schools in the province.

According to the contract (SBEP), 32 schools comprising of 13 USAID schools would be outsourced to EMOs founded under USAID's Sindh Basic Education Programme.

The accords were signed at a ceremony conducted at the CM House. School Education Secretary Akbar Laghari and office-bearers from three successful EMOs — Sindh Madressatul Islam Board (SMB), Dare-i-Arqam Schools (Pvt.) Ltd., and MDZed (Pvt.) Ltd. — signed a 10-year management agreement for the schools.

With the help of USAID, the SMB will oversee four newly constructed schools as well as ten other Sindh government schools in Karachi's Malir and West districts.

In the districts of Kashmore and Jacobabad, Dare-i-Arqam Schools will operate four newly-constructed schools and four grouped schools, while MDZed (Pvt) Ltd will operate five newly-constructed schools and five existing Sindh government schools.

The US government is funding $159.2 million to the SBEP through USAID, with the Sindh government contributing $10 million as cost-sharing.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah, United States Consul General Mark Stroh, and other USAID officials also attended the occasion.