Students miss out on traditional Aug 14 celebration

Dozens of public school students were told to forget the celebrations and help flood victims instead.

LAHORE: Dozens of public school students who were preparing to take part in the Independence Day ceremony at Hazoori Bagh have been told at the last minute to forget the celebrations and help flood victims instead.

Dr Arshad, the executive district officer (EDO) for education, told The Express Tribune that the district coordination officer (DCO) had cancelled the ceremony in view of the flood crisis.

He said dozens of students had been practicing their acts for the ceremony, and they had now been told to go to their schools on the day to do something useful for the flood victims.

Mubeen Ahmad, a student at Samanabad School, was supposed to take part in a parade and perform with his fellow scouts at Hazoori Bagh on August 14. His teachers have now asked him to solicit donations for flood victims on the streets.

“I will first collect donations with my friends, then go to school to deposit the funds and attend the rest of the ceremony,” he said of his plans on Independence Day.

Hazoori Bagh hosts a flag hoisting ceremony on August 14 each year, and students from 40 public schools were due to participate this year.

Public school teachers vowed to celebrate Independence Day with zeal while also encouraging their students to give financial and moral support to the flood victims.

Rana Liaqat, president of the Muttahida Mahaz Asatza (Teachers’ United Front), told The Express Tribune that ceremonies would be held at Central Model School Lower Mall, Central Model School Rattigan Road, Muslim Model School, Central Model School Samanabad, Pilot Secondary School, Model High School Model Town (both boys and girls) and Comprehensive School Ghoray Shah.

Rana Liaqat said most of the students of the public schools had been excited at the prospect of being able to take part in the ceremony at Hazoori Bagh. The Independence Day celebrations at these schools would be full of extra curricular activities including sports events and debates, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2010.