Morning assemblies banned in schools

In view of the extraordinary situation following the ongoing clashes with Afghanistan, the education department has imposed an immediate ban on morning assemblies in all public and private schools as a precautionary measure.

The Punjab government, Home Department and School Education Department have issued urgent security directives. DPI Secondary Education Qaiser Rashid ordered all schools to ensure CCTV cameras are functional and non-development funds be released immediately.

Schools have been instructed to arrange security guards without delay and deploy them at gates and surrounding areas. Teachers may also be assigned security duties. Main gates must remain closed during school hours.

Emergency drills must be conducted and exit points made known to all. Students should repeatedly practice drills and be given awareness.

Strict monitoring of visitor entry and exit has been ordered. Security staff must remain alert during academic hours. Installation of eight-foot boundary walls with barbed wire, CCTV cameras, metal detectors and panic buttons has been made mandatory.

Only one central gate will be used in each school, and suspicious activity must be reported immediately.

The circular also directs emergency SOPs, mock exercises, phased evacuation of students and protection of water storage facilities. Strict action will be taken for non-compliance.

Punjab Teachers Union Secretary General Rana Liaquat Ali said there is no defence against suicide attacks regardless of security measures. "Schools do not even have security guards. Where they exist, they are neither armed nor trained. Many guards and support staff are posted in offices on temporary duties," he said.

He added that many schools are financially strained and even default on utility bills. "How can they arrange security guards or install CCTV cameras on their own without funds?" he asked.

District education complex

On the other hand, construction of the Rawalpindi District Educational Complex has been completed at a total estimated cost of Rs3.5 billion, and two floors of the new complex have formally been handed over to the Rawalpindi District Education Authority.

Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema had ordered immediate handing over of the complex to the education department, which has now been implemented. All education department offices scattered across the city will be shifted under one roof at the complex.

In the first phase, the office of the chief executive officer of the District Education Authority will be shifted next week, followed by the offices of deputy and district education officers.

The state-of-the-art complex has been constructed at Government High School Madrasa Millia, Satellite Town F-Block.

It had been under construction for the past five years. Two buildings of the complex have now been completed along with their finishing work. CEO Education Tariq Mahmood said that educational offices would be shifted to the newly constructed building by next week.

Following partial handover, it will now be possible for all relevant offices to function under one roof, improving administrative affairs and facilitating citizens and teachers.

The move is expected to enhance service delivery and provide a better organised environment for resolving educational issues. CCTV cameras will be installed and the biometric attendance system will continue.

The CEO Education thanked Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema for his personal interest in ensuring the handover of two floors.