Dearth of labs, teachers put students’ future at stake

Students and teachers urge authorities to take notice

GUJRANWALA:  

More than a hundred government schools in Gujranwala are buckling under the weight of their problems. Schools, for both boys and girls, have been neglected by the authorities concerned. Tall claims made by the government regarding improving infrastructure at government institutions appear to have fallen flat as the institutions remain dilapidated and without basic facilities.

A survey by Express News showed that several schools lack proper classrooms to accommodate students. Further, school managements have failed to hire teachers to teach science subjects, including biology, physics and math to the students of primary and secondary classes.

In addition to this, the schools lack laboratories for chemistry, physics and biology and equipment for practicals. This has resulted in students being unable to carry out practical work. Because of this, the future of majority of the students is at stake as they are unable to prepare for the exams.

Further, the lack of teaching staff has put a burden on the teachers as they are compelled to undertake more subjects.

Such schools include Government Girls High School Bhegowali, Government Girls High School Sialkot Bypass, Government Boys High School MC-13, FC Islamia High School and others.

Students and teachers have urged the government to address these issues to no avail. They urged the education department and the Punjab chief minister to take notice of the matter.

When contacted, District Education Officer Qadir Bakhsh told Express News that all the schools have Non-Salary Budget (NSB) funds and they can utilise it to purchase materials to conduct practicals. “Till new science labs are not constructed, some classrooms will temporarily be converted into laboratories so that students can carry out practical work,” he added,

Qadir mentioned that teaching staff will also be provided to those schools facing shortage of teachers.