School in ruins post privatisation

The ill effects of privatising government schools in the face of massive protests have started manifesting.

A stark example is the Government Primary School in Omanga village, Gujjar Khan Tehsil, Rawalpindi district, which was handed over to the Government Primary School Education Foundation in 2016. The institution was discreetly shut down three years ago. Today, the once-thriving school lies in ruins, a testament to neglect and abandonment.

Thieves have stripped the premises of valuable materials, including windows, doors and iron frames. The absence of maintenance has allowed wild bushes and hemp plants to grow up to ten feet tall, transforming the area into a haven for snakes, rodents, cats, bats and other wildlife. Regrettably, this abandoned facility has also become a hotspot for illicit activities, providing a sanctuary for heroin addicts.

The school was built on two kanals of land donated by residents. From 2003 to 2016, the school thrived with 150 to 200 students enrolled and three to four dedicated primary teachers. However, in 2016, during the tenure of the current Prime Minister as Punjab Chief Minister, the school was handed over to the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF). All government teachers and non-teaching staff were transferred, and PEF took charge. The new management introduced a fee of Rs200-300, replacing the experienced teachers with a single matriculate teacher. This drastic change led to a steady decline in enrolment. Over the next five years, the number of students dwindled, and by 2021, the school was left with no students.

When the private administration attempted to sell the school's land, the local citizens swiftly intervened, halting the transaction. Asserting their rightful ownership, they declared, "This school is our property, built with our funds and constructed on land donated by us."

After being vacated, the school rapidly fell into disarray. Thieves stripped the premises of windows, doors, cupboards, iron fixtures and furniture. Rainwater began seeping through the roof. The abandoned building now shelters animals. Central President of the Primary Elementary Secondary Teachers Association, Abdul Rauf Kayani, strongly condemned the actions of the PEF, stating that after taking control of the government school, the organisation had closed it down, effectively darkening the children's future.

This move, he asserted, flagrantly violates Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan, which guarantees free education to all citizens. "The Education Department of Punjab has abandoned its constitutional duty," Kayani said. "Furthermore, the community's trust has been betrayed, as the land donated for the school was conditional upon its use for public education. Today, the once-thriving school lies in ruins. The government must immediately halt the privatisation of public schools and prevent any further deterioration of the education system," he added.

Naveed Akhtar and Chaudhry Imran, residents of Omanga village, expressed, "We used to gift our land to the government and institutions for schools and dispensaries, but after seeing what's happening to government schools and primary health centres, we won't be giving our land in the future," they said.

When the spokesperson for the Rawalpindi District Education Authority, was questioned about the issue, he stated that the school in question was under the control of the PEF and not within their jurisdiction.