Forget laptops, Gujranwala school needs walls

A 50-year-old elementary public school in Gujranwala has 350 students, but only two rooms to accommodate them.


Ema Anis May 04, 2012

GUJRANWALA: A 50-year-old elementary public school in the Basiwala area of Gujranwala has 350 students, but only two rooms to accommodate them.

Not only are the school premises insufficient to accommodate the large number of students, its dilapidated walls and ceilings may also cave in at any moment, a safety hazard.

On sunny days, the children have to sit under the scorching sun to study. During inclement weather, they have to sit among pools of stagnant rainwater mixed with sewerage.

The teachers of the school are equally affected by the conditions but remain helpless.

On the one hand, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has been busy distributing advanced laptops among students of the province, while on the other, students of this school within his jurisdiction wait for the government to provide them with basic facilities.

According to a recent report, the budget of the laptop initiative is Rs4 billion, and so far thousands of students across the province have received the laptops.

COMMENTS (13)

Rizwan Hameed reporter express news Gujranwala | 11 years ago | Reply

Hi! Friends

While shooting this news report i was astonished that why the government is ignoring these basic schools and focusing on new projects and spending massive funds. On the other end , the complex of deprivation is victimizing these innocent village area students. Thanks to Express Tribune for posting this. My report is available fully on You tube with this tag School conditions News Report by Rizwan Hameed Express News

Saad Iqbal | 11 years ago | Reply

The greatest crime Punjab Government did with these students is with the same funds they shouldve hired top Phds with good packages, and give them access to Digital Libraries to be equipped with the latest research around the world. This wouldve not only made them compete with local job market but even global market. But this policy was to get votes and popularity - and end up playing will the lives of these young aspirants in a critical time of their life. I havent laptop policy from public funds in even developed countries, and it is a crime in a country like Pakistan where there isnt clean water or primary education for masses.

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