Uncalled for leave: Over 2,000 schools swept away in floods

Classes at more than 1,400 schools suspended.

LAHORE:

More than 2,000 school buildings across the province have been damaged in recent floods, according to School Education Department (SED) officials.

They said the school buildings had been affected by floods in nine districts. These are Jhang, Jhelum, Chiniot, Sialkot, Hafizabad, Muzaffargarh, Narowal, Sheikhupura and Sargodha.

“The repair work has been started at some of the damaged school buildings,” SED Additional Secretary (general) Hassan Akhtar said.

“Safety comes first. We are ensuring that children do not go to the schools damaged by the floods,” Akhtar told The Express Tribune.

The SED issued a report on September 12 saying that 1,941 school buildings, including 1,700 primary schools, had been affected by floodwater. “The figure has swelled as the floods are not over yet,” said Akhtar who is supervising the repair and renovation of the damaged school buildings.

The SED report said alternate schooling arrangements had been made.

It said 211 school buildings had been damaged in Sialkot, 174 in Hafizabad, 151 in Jhelum and 182 in Sargodha. Classes in these areas are being arranged at nearby schools or makeshift schools.

The report said 144 school buildings had been damaged in Chiniot. Students in the district have been sent on leave. It said 121 schools in Narowal and 238 in Sheikhupura had been affected. The report said the maximum 280 school buildings had been damaged in Jhang. No alternate classes have been arranged in the district. Authorities have decided to set up tent schools once the floodwater recedes.

Akhtar said Jhang, Sargodha and Hafizabad had been worst hit by floods. He said the repair was ongoing in collaboration with local school councils.

The SED said classes at more that 1,400 schools had been suspended owing to rains and floods.  While the SED report of September 12 calculated the damage of Rs4.8 billion, district authorities estimate the amount can go up to Rs6 billion. “The exact amount has not been calculated yet,” Akhtar said.

“The problem we face is not that of funds but that of accessibility to these schools as connecting roads and other infrastructure are damaged and flooded,” he said.

He said the department would intensify the repair work by October.

“We hope to carry out 80% of the repair and renovation work in the next two to three months,” Akhtar said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2014.