Education emergency? No furniture or fixtures, but this school has donkeys

Parents unwilling to send children to only public school offering admissions to girls

Typically, schools pride themselves on breeding future intellectuals, scientists and scholars. One school located in Korangi, Karachi, has no such qualms. This school is breeding donkeys instead.

At the City District School Number 4, located in Korangi 2.5, students sit on the floor, while their playground is occupied by a herd of donkeys. Sans furniture and fixtures, this school being run by the Korangi District Municipal Corporation is victim of decades of neglect and decay.



"There is no furniture in our classrooms," lamented one student. "Basic fixtures such as fans, windows and gates are long gone," he told The Express Tribune. The walls supporting the classrooms too have developed cracks and there are fears that they would crumble down any day. There are no toilets for the around 750 students currently enrolled at the school from grades one to 10.



"Even if someone really wants to study, they may not be able to learn under such circumstances," said another student. "We too want our school building to have proper facilities like private schools so we can focus on our studies," she said, adding that the parents of students at this school could not afford to send students to private institutions.

Meanwhile, teachers who spoke to The Express Tribune said that after repeated complaints by the school officials, the provincial education department had set aside funds to construct a new building on the premises. The construction work started some time ago, but has moved on at a snail's pace since.



"Where should these students be taught till then?" one teacher questioned, pointing toward the dilapidated school structure. "The school offers zero facilities for these children," she said angrily.

With the absence of a gatekeeper to guard the premises, the school has become a favourite hangout spot for people from the surrounding areas. To add insult to injury, neighbours have laid sewerage lines through the school's premises. This has not only rendered the playground worthless, but also poses the risk of infectious diseases among the children.

The neighbourhood is wary of sending children to this school. But they have little choice, for it is the only public institution offering education to girls. Many have been forced to give up, however, with parents reluctant to send their children to the school that endangers their health and life.



"We appeal the government to save the only public school of the neighborhood and expedite the renovations on the building so our daughters may continue their education here," said one parent, Muhammad Irfan, whose daughter, Manahyl, is a student of grade six. Irfan also requested the authorities to ensure provision of basic facilities such as furniture and fixtures for the classrooms so that the students do not develop an inferiority complex when they interact with their counterparts from private schools.



"It is not that we do not want to get our children educated at the government school, but given the appalling situation, we don't know how we can ask them to continue attending classes here," said another parent, Amjad, whose daughter, Malaika, also studies at the school. He added that funds for the construction of a new building had been approved by the provincial education department, but the construction work had halted after some time for some unknown reason. The residents have appealed authorities to expedite the construction work on the new building so students may be able to attend classes in peace.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2018.