Teaching ESL in Rural Sindh: An Investigation of Challenges and Disparities in Selected Public Schools at Secondary Level
Authors: Muhammad Muslim  , Urooj Chang  , Alia Rifat  , Mehran Khan  , Farzana Jabeen  
Published: February 2025

Globally, the facilities for academic success and getting ahead in your career have been made available for those who can communicate in English. Nevertheless, ESL (English as a Second Language) education in rural Sindh, Pakistan is fraught with challenges such as inadequate resources, overcrowded classroom, lack of training for teachers, and a lack of administrative support. This research explores those challenges, their potential to disrupt the effectiveness of ESL teaching, and possible solutions to enhance language education in public secondary schools within rural Sindh. We employed a mixed-methods approach complemented by quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with ESL teachers. A structured questionnaire was deployed to 60 ESL teachers at the selected schools and semi-structured interviews were conducted with teachers, students and school administrators. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. The psychometric reliability score of Cronbach’s Alpha was 0.89, ensuring the reliability of results. Qualitative analysis was further augmented by classroom observations that documented the teaching practices and challenges in real-time context. The study found some significant issues in ESL education in rural Sindh. More than 73% of teachers said they were hampered by a lack of resources, and 78% said a lack of English proficiency among students posed a major barrier. The lack of focus on large class sizes (51.7%) and insufficient professional development opportunities (only 55% felt they were adequately trained) only made matters worse. Administrative and parental support also fell short: Nearly 47% of teachers reported that they did not get regular support from the institution. In spite of these challenges, 85% of teachers strongly agree with the effectiveness of technology-enhanced teaching and learning in ESL classes. However, the infrastructural boundaries prevent mainstream implementation. The struggle of this group is a wake-up call for the systemic change needed to rural ESL education. These findings indicate that initiatives such as specialized teacher training, better resource allocation, enhanced integration of digital learning tools through competitive digital platforms, and a strong institutional framework can help improve English as a second language instruction considerably. Awareness about mental health among students is necessary but if school is not a place to talk about such issues, there won’t be any concrete sustainability. It is important especially in early education where school administrators, communities and educators need to work together for sustainable comparative improvements. Future work should consider larger and more heterogeneous teachers and schools, assess the impact of existing teacher training programs, and identify low-cost approaches for implementing technology in resource-deprived contexts. To address this, policymakers need to emphasize context-sensitive interventions to narrow the educational divide between urban and rural students and guarantee equal access to quality ESL instruction. Such an analysis is useful as it opens up a conversation about ESL tuition in socially deprived areas; this may be helpful in understanding the challenges teachers face and how to overcome them. In order to overcome these barriers, we need coordinated efforts by policymakers, educators, and communities to create a more inclusive and more effective language learning environment for students in rural Sindh.