Extension in summer vacations proposed
Rainwater submerged the roads, streets and bylanes of Rawalpindi as a result of torrential downpours over the past week. PHOTOS: NNI
An extension in summer vacations has been proposed for educational institutions including schools across Punjab including in the Rawalpindi district as monsoon rains have caused wide-spread damage to infrastructure including school buildings in the province.
Officials said that the damaged buildings and boundary walls may pose a risk to the students and teachers when the schools reopen across Punjab on August 1 after summer vacations. They said that it has been proposed not to open schools prior to the completion of repair work.
The officials said that it has been proposed to extend the summer vacations for two weeks due to the torrential rains and urban flooding in all 36 districts of Punjab including the Rawalpindi district. They said that it has been proposed to resume new session from August 15 instead of August 1. The officials said that the proposal has been deferred by the provincial education ministry until the new education minister takes the oath.
The officials said that a final decision regarding the proposal will be taken by July 29 once the new education assumes charge of the office.
Sources said that the bureaucracy was also in favour of the proposal as per the forecast, the heavy rainfall would continue over the next few days.
Meanwhile, District Education Authority Chief Executive Officer Raja Amjad Iqbal has ordered a week-long cleaning campaign in educational institutions throughout the district prior to the start of the new session.
He said that it was a collective responsibility to carry out a robust campaign for the eradication of the dengue virus and larvae. The official said that heads of all educational institutions should ensure the cutting of grass and deep cleaning of classrooms, bathrooms, roofs, water tanks, water coolers, and dispensers prior to the start of the new session. He said that dengue awareness posters and banners must be hoisted on school gates.
The Rawalpindi district administration and health teams will also inspect all educational institutions to ensure thorough cleanliness arrangements for the students.
Officials said that health teams were actively working in various tehsils of the Rawalpindi district for the eradication of the dengue virus.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2022.