The Sindh government has failed to improve state of education, and an incomplete construction of the Government Girls Degree College in Ratodero since 2010 is self-evident about deteriorating condition of educational institutions which has put the future of thousands of students at stake in the province. About two years ago, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah imposed the ‘education emergency’ to formulate and implement effective reforms to reduce illiteracy and promote quality education in the province. The total cost of building amounted to Rs 10 crore and the building contract was allegedly awarded to a ‘blue-eyed’ person who abandoned work and caused a heavy loss to national exchequer. Meanwhile, poor sanitation and drainage system of Ratodero spilled sewage into the foundations of the college building. Besides, influential persons have been grazing donkeys, buffaloes and cattle in the grounds while residents informed the media that a notorious gambling den has been occupying the building and accused Ratodero police of doing nothing against them. They further denounced the Education Department over its incompetency and negligence in resolving issues pertaining to youths’ education in Sindh. Moreover, it has been learnt that there are only two subject specialists including English and Sindhi educators while no specialists to teach Biology, Physics and Chemistry for more than 700 female students in the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Ratodero. Furthermore, there has been shortage of classrooms and essential equipment to conduct experiments in laboratory. In this regard, several political and social welfare organisations appealed to the concerned authorities to take notice of the matter, and order construction of the college building on the priority basis. Larkana Colleges Regional Director Liaquat Ali Ghangro informed that Rs 2 to 3 million were required to complete work and urged the provincial government to sanction the project immediately. He further disclosed that construction work of the Girls Degree College Madeji was also incomplete and requires same amount of money. He said that Sanctioned Numbers of Employees (SNE) teachers for Ratodero and Madeji colleges were also approved, and studies would start as soon as buildings were handed over to them. Woman shot dead allegedly by brother for ‘honour’ in Larkana A 29-year-old woman was shot dead on Sunday allegedly by her brother for ‘honour’ in Sache Bux Jagirani village in the precinct of the Kanga police station. Reportedly, police rushed to the spot and shifted the deceased’s body identified as Zuhra Khatoon Jagirani to the Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for autopsy. However, police claimed that she was killed by her cousin and his accomplice. Meanwhile, police arrested a suspect Gudu Jagirani during a raid while further investigation into the incident was underway. In another incident, two boys including seven-year-old Sameer and eight-year-old Khan Muhammad, residents of Nazar locality, drowned to death in the Rice canal in the precinct of the Rahmatpur police station on Sunday. Meanwhile, local divers fished out Khan’s body while attempts were being made to find Sameer’s body. Their parents said that the boys were friends, and went to take bath along with other children in the canal. They accused district administration of sheer negligence as it could not implement a ban on swimming in the Rice Canal. Published in Daily Times, September 17th 2018.