Cameras found in school washrooms

Sindh Education Department has cancelled the registration of a private school and sealed the premises after secrete cameras were found installed in the boys and girls washrooms

At least two hidden cameras have been found from the washrooms of a private school located in Safora Goth, officials told The Express Tribune.

Despite warning and show cause notices served to the school management, it failed to clear its position while the school was functional on Friday, they said.

A female teacher of the school namely The Haracks School, Chapal Sun City lodged a complained with the Directorate of Inspection of Private Institutions Sindh, a committee visited the school on Thursday and found two hidden cameras in the washrooms.

"Hidden cameras were installed behind a sheet with holes in the area of the washrooms situated with the toilets of girls and boys so that one can easily watch the movements of male and female students and staff," said an office order written by Director General Dr Mansoob Hussain Siddiqui.

The school management was directed to appear before Siddiqui but it did not appear.

Read More: Police register case against school management

Though the letter clearly mentioned the suspension of the school registration on Thursday but, sources disclosed it was even functional on Friday.

Sources told The Express Tribune that some of the female school teachers were already aware of the hidden cameras but were not sure where they were installed.

"The team when searched the washrooms did not find anything in start," a senior official said. "When they unsealed the sheet and found a hidden camera," the official said. "Another camera was also installed in the boys' washroom in the same manner."

Though several complaints have been lodged by parents and teachers about the private schools in the city but the education department's officials said that it was the first case where cameras were installed in the washrooms.

The experts said that the school managements could install cameras for security and safety purpose of the students and the staff. "But they cannot install cameras in washrooms," another officials said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2021.