Back to school: Most schools in the city reopen with low attendance

Teachers stress the need to ensure children follow school discipline.

LAHORE:

Schools across the city reopened on Thursday after more than two months of summer vacation, but with low attendance.

Ahsan Raza, rector of Ibne Sina College in Defence Phase III, believes the reason is that students become accustomed to their summer routine.

Speaking with The Express Tribune, he said, it had become a routine for many students to join school late after vacations.

He says on days with a low student turnout, multiple sections of various classes are combined.

“Whenever summer break is followed by holidays such as Eid or a weekend, students stay away for the days that might fall until the next weekend,” he said.

St Lawrence High School started its classes on Thursday with only two students attending.

Principal Rosy Nawab said while she was not expecting full attendance, two was a number below her expectation.

She said the teachers spent the day discussing their plans for the year. Nawab says many of the students leave city for Eid and return to school in the beginning of the week. She, however, hoped that attendance will be regular from Monday.

Several teachers as well as parents, however, said it was the parents’ responsibility to make sure that their children returned to school on time.

Mirza Amin Baig, a father of three, insisted that children must be taught to resume their routines promptly.

“It is important for parents to make their children follow school timetables and teaches them discipline,” he said.

He believes that the parents’ attitude is reflected through their children and that they should be facilitated to slide back in their routine instead of becoming lethargic. He said his children were excited about returning to school after a long break.

While most schools opened after the summer break on Thursday, others will open on Monday.

Principal of the Sanjan Nagar School, Raheela Akram, told The Tribune that the new session at her school would commence from September 1. She said the school had arranged a summer camp in June and had announced summer vacations from July to August 31. The staff, she said, had been directed to return a few days before the school reopened so that they could prepare for the next session.

Mohammad Farooq, headmaster of the Divisional Public School’s senior boys’ branch in Model Town, said the staff had been called two days before the school reopens on September 3.

All Beaconhouse branches in Lahore will reopen from September 3.

Sabiha Anjum, who retired recently after more than 25 years of teaching, said the percentage of children returning to school late after summer vacations had been on the decline for the past few years.

“Previously students used to take several days to return to routine. Now with schools commencing regular classes on the first day and imposing fines, students are more conscious of their attendance,” she said.

Having taught English at the junior wing of the Divisional Public School since 1985, Anjum had always discouraged late returns.

“Students should be taught the significance of following their schedule. How else can you expect them to become responsible citizens?” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2012.