As of 2005, the teacher: student ratio in Sindh for public institutions was around 1:27. It should be noted however that this figure only exists on paper as in actual fact the ratio is in all likelihood much higher owing to high levels of teacher absenteeism and transfers. A 2-room school in Manghopir, Karachi had over a 100 children but just one teacher/headmistress, who said that a second teacher had resigned 3 months ago but had not been replaced by any other by the education department.

As of 2003, a report by the Ministry of Education states that “The qualifications of teacher are generally matriculate/HSC, PTC/CT. In some of the areas even the condition of matriculate has to be relaxed. The teachers have hardly any opportunity for systematic in-service training. On-the job training, monitoring and guidance is nearly non-existent.” However, findings suggest that teachers in public schools are generally not found lacking in requisite experiences or basic academic and professional qualifications.

Having said that, despite their academic and professional qualifications, public school teachers are unable to cope with often unmanageable student to teacher ratios, especially insofar as multi-grading is concerned.