Public schools in Korangi hijacked by opportunists

In the absence of boundary walls, school grounds are being used as marriage lawns

KARACHI: Neglected by the Sindh government and the district authorities, several municipal schools in Korangi district have been turned into marriage lawns. The municipal schools without boundary walls, are open to the public, making them unsafe for the children.

The new building of Muhammad Ali Jinnah Boys and Girls English Medium School number 19, covering an area of 5,000 square feet, was constructed a year ago but was never really completed. The plan included a boundary wall which was never realised and due to its absence, the school has become home to stray animals and homeless people.

Some people have encroached upon the streets and constructed their homes on the roads on two sides of the school where the boundaries were to be constructed.



The doors of these houses open inside the school premises. Some people have even opened businesses on the school ground where they make and sell jewellery and paper envelopes. The shops attract strangers who wander into the school premises leaving the students feeling unprotected and exposed.

The school does not have a security guard and the residents of the area have broken the tiles and glass windows of the building. Moreover, the school ground, now covered with a tent, is being used as a venue to host wedding and mehndi functions.

While talking to The Express Tribune, the students said that they cannot go outside during break time as it is unsafe. They said that due to the absence of a boundary wall, anybody can come in and go out of the school premises, including drug addicts. They added that the people consider it public property and play on the grounds all day which restricts their extracurricular activities.



On the other hand, District Korangi Education Director Nayyer Iqbal told The Express Tribune that he has been serving at this post for one and a half years and the contractors have been given 20 days to build the school's boundary. He added that school has been encroached upon and for its removal the District Korangi Municipal Commissioner Shahid Ali Khan has been informed.

Iqbal added that two of the school's buildings have been declared perilous. He said that DMC Boys Primary School number 22 Headmaster Muhammad Alam resides there and despite multiple notices being issued to him, he has still not evacuated. He said that Alam would be removed adding that the engineering department has been informed and it will inform the Works and Service Department. He said that renovation of the school building and its surroundings will be done soon and encroachments will be removed.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2018.