APPSCA threatens nationwide protest on December 16

Roads leading to cantts to be blocked if eviction notices not withdrawn, says association

ISLAMABAD:

The All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association (APPSCA) has warned that a nationwide protest will be staged on December 16 if notices of the institutions’ eviction from the cantonment areas are not withdrawn.

As many as 8,000 private educational institutes have been served notices by 42 cantonment boards across the country to vacate the cantonment premises by the end of this month as per court’s orders.

APPSCA President Malik Abrar Hussain in a press conference said that in case their demands are not met, the school heads, teachers, students and parents will block the roads leading to the schools and will also do the same with the general roads of the cantonment areas.

He said that they have no option other than protesting in order to save the future of 3 million students and the livelihood of 1.5 million teachers as well as staff.

Abrar went on to say that as part of the protests, the teachers will give lessons to students on the roads if the need arises.

The official pointed out that none of the schools run by the armed forces in the cantonment areas have been served similar notices, saying that dual standards are always detrimental to the system.

He added that the current state of affairs in the field of education reflects the overall apathy of the government towards education, claiming that the rulers of the country who come into power on the back of promising educational and judicial reforms rarely honour their promises.

APPSCA Secretary General Ashraf Hiraj lamented that the association had challenged the orders of eviction in the high court, but no hearing has been held for two years.

He further said that an appeal for reconsideration has also been lodged with the Supreme Court, and that he is hopeful that the judiciary will give them justice.

APPSCA President for Punjab Ilyas Kiyani noted that Pakistan is among the worst countries for improving the standards of education and making it accessible, with almost 30 million children out of school. He urged the government to take practical steps to ensure that every single child attends school and receives quality education.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2021.