KARACHI - Deputy Mission Director, US Agency for International Development (USAID), Edward Birgells, and Mukhtiar Hussain Soomro, Secretary of Education, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to repair and rehabilitate flood-damaged schools in the four southern Sindh districts of Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Umerkot and Tando Allahyar.Monsoon rains/floods in 2011 severely affected Southern districts of Sindh, displacing as many as an estimated six million Pakistanis from their homes. The Education & Literacy Department is identifying and prioritising the schools in coordination with the USAID that will receive USAID support under the MoU.Senior Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq appreciated the continued assistance of USAID in education sector. He informed that USAID assisted Sindh Basic Education Programme has been approved by Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) and implementation of the programme will begin soon. Sindh Basic Education Programme is USD 165 million programme of which USD 155 million is USAID grant. The Program will improve access and quality of education in Sindh.Edward Birgells stated, “USAID’s Education Programme is providing Pakistani children the opportunity to study with well-qualified teachers in environments conducive to learning. Repairing flood damaged schools in Sindh province will increase and sustain student enrollment in primary and middle schools. Education supports students’ future job prospects, Pakistan’s economic development and is a key ingredient in building a strong civil society and democracy.”