Changing policy: Schools to stay open on strikes, days of mourning

Provincial education dept asks parties to exempt schools from strike calls.

KARACHI: Private schools across the province will remain open in the wake of strike calls, protests and days of mourning announced by religious and political parties. The Sindh education department and different associations of private schools on Thursday have finally come to an agreement to address this long-standing concern of parents.

"The associations for the private schools will not have the discretion to issue a policy statement about schools' closure in the wake of any strike call or protest announced by political parties," announced the provincial education minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro following a meeting with the representatives of private school associations. "The associations as well as administrations of private schools will abide by the government's policy." Karachi director of public and private school education, Mansoob Hussain Siddiqui, who will ensure the implementation of the agreement, was also present at the meeting.

Khuhro asserted that the Rangers, police and the provincial government are on the same page to provide security to educational institutions. "Law enforcers will effectively deal with all such elements who would try to forcibly close down schools," he said. "The political and religious parties are expected to keep this in mind that educational institutions from now on will be exempted from the protests and strike calls."

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2015.