Schools say opening from Aug 15
PHOTO: MUHAMMAD AZEEM/EXPRESS
Even though the government has announced to reopen educational institutions from September 15, the private schools are adamant to reopen them from August 15.
The private institutions have started circulating messages to the parents that the educational activities in schools would be resumed from August 15.
The messages, read by The Express Tribune, instructed the parents to send their children to the schools on the given date and clear all outstanding dues before prior to it.
The students have also been instructed to purchase the course for new classes while the teachers have also been directed to mark attendance on the given date.
Subsequently, the District Education Authority (DEA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) have taken strict notice of the circulating messages.
They have directed the related officials to complete all preparations to seal the private educational institutions that intend to open on August 15 without official permission.
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The administration has formed special teams under the Assistant Commissioners (ACs) and Civil Defense Department (CDD) and they have been tasked to take action.
The district administration has warned the private institutions that violation of government orders may lead to cancellation of registration. The teams, in their assigned areas, will strictly monitor schools from early morning.
The parents have also been asked to forward the messages sent by the schools to the administration.
Despite that, the private schools’ action committee has announced to reopen them from the given date at all costs.
Private schools adamant on reopening
Mid-August is the best time to reopen the educational institutions in the country and resume the academic activities after the prolonged closure imposed by the government to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
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This was stated by representatives of private educational institutions during a recently held Express Forum. All Pakistan Private Schools Colleges Association (APPSCA) Punjab President Raja Muhammad Ilyas, Rawalpindi Divisional President Irfan Muzaffar Kayani, and prominent leaders including Malik Hafeezur Rehman, Muhammad Ibrahim, Iftikhar Mahmood Chaudhry, Munawar Naqvi, Abdul Qaddos, Musarrat Kamran and Sheikh Umar said that the continuous closure of schools for the past four-and-a-half month has led to an increase in child labour across the country, while the number of out-of-school students has also increased.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2020.