KARACHI: The Sindh Education Department is preparing a policy to address schools with more teachers than enrolled students, with surplus staff expected to be offered voluntary early retirement under a proposed golden handshake scheme.

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Facial recognition to verify teacher and student data Recruitment powers likely to shift to headmasters Focus on resource management

Education Minister Sardar Shah said the policy will be implemented after the department completes a facial recognition process to verify the number of teachers and students across government schools. Officials say the initiative aims to improve staffing efficiency and align teacher deployment with actual enrollment levels.

According to the proposed plan, schools where teacher numbers significantly exceed student enrollment will be reviewed. The department will identify surplus teachers through a verification exercise before deciding on further action.

Facial recognition to verify teacher and student data

Sardar Shah said the exact number of teachers and students will only be known once the facial recognition process is completed.

After the verification is finalized, teachers identified as surplus will have the option to voluntarily retire through a golden handshake package. The minister said participation in the scheme would be voluntary.

Officials believe the exercise will provide more accurate data on school staffing and student attendance, helping policymakers make informed decisions about resource allocation.

Recruitment powers likely to shift to headmasters

The Education Department is also considering devolving recruitment authority for lower-grade school staff to headmasters.

Under the proposal, headmasters would be authorized to recruit support staff, including chowkidars, gardeners and naib qasids, at the school level.

Sardar Shah said centralized recruitment had previously contributed to staffing pressures and increased administrative burdens.

Focus on resource management

Education officials say the proposed reforms are intended to improve workforce planning, control unnecessary expenditures and ensure that staffing levels correspond to student enrollment.

The department believes that reducing surplus positions and streamlining recruitment could help ease budgetary pressure while improving the management of education resources across the province.