Enhancement of Access to Primary Education under Implementation of School Education Sector Plan & Roadmap for Sindh 2019-2024 Perceptions of Head Master's District Umerkot, Sindh

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the status of implementation of the School Education Sector Plan & Roadmap for Sindh 2019-2024 and its relevance for enhancing access to education at the primary level education through the perception of school headmasters of the selected district. The study employed a qualitative research method. Within qualitative research, a phenomenological approach was employed. The findings revealed that certain activities seemed lacking implementation viz, a baseline survey of out-of-school children, clustering of schools, continuous professional development training, whereas, majority of them, entailing enrolment campaigns for school-age children registration transport facilities and infrastructure ECE and upgradation stayed there executed. Recruitment, training of newly recruited teachers, and alternative arrangements of education in emergency seemed outstanding achievements of the sector plan in opening closed schools and continuing education in emergency, partly supplementing enhancement of access to education, whereas the COVID-19 pandemic appeared to be a daunting challenge, affecting the education sector as whole. Spirit of ownership follow-up and monitoring aspects of the implementation activities were found to be the major gaps in the plan implementation. The study recommended grassroots stakeholders’ involvement in the development and execution of sector plans, district and taluka-level implementation and monitoring mechanisms.