Sindh Education and Labour Minister Saeed Ghani has said that out of 49,000 public schools across the province, 13,000 are closed while there is a shortfall of 37,000 teachers.

He expressed these views while talking to the media after appearing in a case related to lack of teachers in some schools in Tando Allahyar at Sindh High Court in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Saeed Ghani said that the Sindh High Court Hyderabad had summoned him in this case.

“I told the honorable court that out of 49,000 public schools across the province, 13,000 are closed while there is a short fall of 37,000 teachers. In the past, some schools were built on wrong plans that are closed,” the minister told the media.

Education Minister Ghani said that the honorable court had been told that the recruitment of teachers on merit had begun as well as steps were being taken to improve the school system.

He said most countries around the world have banned public gatherings and closed educational institutions. He said there were two cases of corona virus in Sindh so far.

“A large number of pilgrims from Iran have come to Pakistan via Taftan, Balochistan. An estimated 13,000 visitors have come to Pakistan. Most of them came in the Sindh province. Misinformation is being spread on social media, the government is providing accurate information and nothing is being hidden,” Ghani held.

The education minister said that symptoms of coronavirus appear in 14 days. The health of these families and children has been reviewed and educational institutions have been closed in accordance with the precautionary measures.