Dilapidated buildings: Three primary schools shut down
Officer says teachers, students accommodated in nearby schools.
SIALKOT:
The Sialkot Education Department on Thursday shut down three primary schools because their buildings were more than a hundred years old and had been declared dangerous by the buildings department. These were Government MC Boys Primary School Adda Pasruriyaan, Sialkot; Government MC Boys Primary School Chowk Shaheedaan and Government MC Boys Primary School Muhallah Water Works.
Education department officials said that owing to a severe shortage of funds, the department was left with no option but to shut down these schools. “It the government remains unwilling to generate funds for rehabilitation of old school buildings more such closures may take place in the coming years,” they said.
Assistant Education Officer (AEO) Sheikh Sajid Qadir admitted that the buildings were not fit for use but said that the closure was indispensable because the schools had very few students. “There were more teachers in these schools than students,” he said.
He said the closure would not affect the stakeholders because the teachers had been posted and students admitted to other government schools nearby.
Citizens Rights Protection Forum chairman Dr Muneer Butt criticised the administration for closing the schools. He said the schools were more than a century old and there was no need of closing them. Instead of repairing the buildings, he said, the government has gone for the easier option and closed the schools. “This kind of policy will not be in the interest of the city in the long run,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2011.
The Sialkot Education Department on Thursday shut down three primary schools because their buildings were more than a hundred years old and had been declared dangerous by the buildings department. These were Government MC Boys Primary School Adda Pasruriyaan, Sialkot; Government MC Boys Primary School Chowk Shaheedaan and Government MC Boys Primary School Muhallah Water Works.
Education department officials said that owing to a severe shortage of funds, the department was left with no option but to shut down these schools. “It the government remains unwilling to generate funds for rehabilitation of old school buildings more such closures may take place in the coming years,” they said.
Assistant Education Officer (AEO) Sheikh Sajid Qadir admitted that the buildings were not fit for use but said that the closure was indispensable because the schools had very few students. “There were more teachers in these schools than students,” he said.
He said the closure would not affect the stakeholders because the teachers had been posted and students admitted to other government schools nearby.
Citizens Rights Protection Forum chairman Dr Muneer Butt criticised the administration for closing the schools. He said the schools were more than a century old and there was no need of closing them. Instead of repairing the buildings, he said, the government has gone for the easier option and closed the schools. “This kind of policy will not be in the interest of the city in the long run,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2011.