Pupils prohibited from cleaning classrooms

Pupils in smog-hit districts to get free masks

LAHORE:

Students were prohibited from undertaking the responsibility of cleaning schools across Punjab on Thursday.

During an inspection of the Government Junior Model High School in Model Town, Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi ordered the secretary of the school education department to immediately issue a notification in this regard for strict compliance.

He vowed to hold the principals and headmasters accountable for cleanliness issues arising in schools.

After listening to the students' concerns, he issued directives to provide free masks to school students in Lahore and other smog-affected districts.

He expressed concern over several classrooms in the school lacking furniture, forcing students to study whole sitting on the floor.

Read Schools warned against smog laxity

According to an official statement, the washrooms were unclean and devoid of water, and the electric water coolers were malfunctioning. Broken furniture, damaged whiteboards, dilapidated doors and windows without glass and grills added to the dismal state of the classrooms.

There was only one sweeper available for the 750 students. In addition, sports activities were suspended, classrooms had peeling paint and cobwebs, lighting was inadequate and some fans were inoperable.

The computer laboratory was found non-operational and the science labs in a poor condition. The students voiced grievances about the absence of clean drinking water, insufficient water in washrooms, broken furniture and damaged whiteboards.

The caretaker CM summoned the education minister, schools secretary, communications and works secretary, and the district education authority’s chief executive officer to the school to rectify the issues.

Meanwhile, presiding over a meeting of environmental experts and senior officials, the caretaker CM ordered strict action against burning crop residue and for enforcing mandatory use of facemask in educational institutions and during commute in the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2023.