Public school building on the verge of collapse

Despite repeated complaints no action has been taken at the Umer Ali Shaheed KMC Government School in Metroville

KARACHI: In Frontier Colony, a small neighbourhood in Karachi, a public school building shows signs of the government’s negligence. The lives of its students are at stake, while teachers and parents are in great difficulty. Umer Ali Shaheed Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Government School ST 38, situated in Metroville’s Frontier Colony in District West, is on the verge of collapse.

The 12-room school building is a dilapidated structure. The rains have taken their toll and the walls, pillars and roofs of the premises are cracked. Weakening walls and roof plasters have led to a complete closure of 10 of the 12 rooms in the school. The roof of the second floor has collapsed and its balcony is no longer in its original position.

The principal of the school, Shahla Aziz, told Express News that there is an ever-present fear of a collapsing wall or roof. She said that over 130 students are enrolled at the school.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/874295/dilapidated-condition-20-children-injured-in-classroom-roof-collapse/

Commenting on the condition of the building, she said that the structure had weakened so much that broken pieces of roof plaster have to be cleaned up before school starts every morning. She pleaded to the authorities concerned to take notice of the building’s condition and order its overhaul or reconstruction.

Closed for two months

The school was closed down for two months after reports that 10 of the 12 rooms in school’s premises were ‘not fit for use’. However, the school’s principal reopened the school upon requests from parents. Even though educational activities have resumed, principal Aziz is of the view that the school building poses serious threat to students.

She and her teachers disapprove of teaching students in such a dangerous building but following the insistence of parents, the administration agreed to utilise the remaining two rooms for studies. The students sit on plain sheets laid on the floors of these rooms.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/946594/why-25-million-children-are-out-of-school-in-pakistan/

Two electrical transformers, installed on the ground floor, also pose a risk of fire. The school has notified the authorities regarding this threat but no action has been taken. “Who should we turn to for help?” the principal lamented.

Domestic staff absent

No watchman or sweepers can be found at the school. A watchman is stationed for night duty but during the day the school’s security is ignored. The school’s hygiene is even worse due to the absence of a sweeper. Teachers get the cleaning done on their own. Unavailability of water has led to the closure of the school’s bathrooms, causing great trouble for both students and teachers.

No response from authorities

The principal of the school has sent numerous applications to the schools director, the assistant district officer, District West deputy commissioner and other authorities, asking for an overhaul or reconstruction of the school premises, but nothing has been done.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1451182/ssc-results-no-public-school-student-makes-top-ten/

Residents of the neighbourhood told Express News that a number of applications have been sent to schools director and the assistant district officer in the past year-and-a-half, complaining about the sorry state of the school building but to no action has been taken.

Parents said that the school is a permanent nightmare for them. “We are relieved when our children come back from school in one piece,” they said. The parents also mentioned that 45 days have lapsed since they received a response from District West deputy commissioner. The response, answering the school principal’s application, ensured them that the building would be overhauled. However, they say that 45 days later there has been no progress.

When contacted by Express News, District West Deputy Commissioner Asif Jameel, however, said he could not remember the case off the top of his head. If the principal contacts me again within the next week I will extend my full cooperation to her, he vowed, adding that he will also try to get the school adopted by a private organisation, which would take care of its repairs and maintainence.