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LODHRAN, Jul 3, 2009: OPI organized a seminar on the role of School Management Councils for improving the quality of education. The event took place in Tehsil Council, Lodhran. Mr. Maqbool Ahmad Dogar (District Officer Education) was chief guest of the session while Mr. Sajjad Akhtar Awan (District President Punjab Teachers Union) and Mr. Parvez Iqbal Ansar (Programme Officer SPO Multan) were guests of honor.

Speaking to the seminar, the chief guest said that School Management Councils (SMCs) are excellent way to maintain quality of education at government schools. He said that SMCs can utilize their funds for the development of the schools. He further told that the SMCs can get missing facilities very easily and they have sufficient funds for this purpose. He said that the accounts of SMCs are not audited to make the procedures easier than ever before.

Mr. Sajjad Akhtar Awan said that the structure of SMCs is very good however members of most SMCs are not mobilized. He told that the community does not take interest in school affairs and therefore SMCs cannot work efficiently.

Mr. Parvez Iqbal Ansari said that community participation is the best way to achieve the goal of sustainable development. He said that SMCs are providing a solution to the communities for their school-related problems. He further added that communities should be mobilized through comprehensive awareness programs to take interest in SMCs. He further said that the members of SMCs are not aware of policies and procedures and their capacity should be built.

Mr. Gulfam Mustafa, Executive Director of OPI said that OPI is designing a project to boost up the progress of School Management Councils in District Lodhran. He said that SMCs have potential to change the culture of government schools however transparency, appropriate capacity and accountability are necessary components for this.

Rao Muhammad Rafique, Mr. Muhammad Iftikhar, Hafiza Ishrat Khursheed and Hakeem Muhammad Asif also spoke to the event. A large number of citizens were participating in the seminar. The activity was co-sponsored by Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) Multan.