Public health: Schools open for dengue inspection

Teachers’ union protest being forced to facilitate the Health Dept.

LAHORE:

Public schools across the province opened on Thursday for dengue sprays.

On Wednesday it was announced that schools will remain open to allow inspections as part of the anti-dengue campaign.

Schools Education Department (SED) Director Rana Abdul Qayyum issued the order for schools to open from November 14 to 17 for dengue inspection. There would be no academic activities.

The order directed the school staff to assist dengue inspection teams. Only the principals and the support staff were ordered to come in, the order read.

The Punjab Teachers’ Union issued a statement that teachers would not be working on November 14 and 15 because the government had earlier declared the public holidays.

PTU General Secretary Rana Liaquat Ali said that while teachers were relieved of duties on Muharram 9 and 10 in Lahore, teachers in other districts of the province were required to come to schools.

Ali said teachers in Muzaffargarh, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura and Toba Tek Singh districts informed him that they were asked to report to duty on Thursday for dengue inspections.

Ali said suspension of mobile phone services early on Thursday morning hindered communication with the teachers.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a teacher at a girls’ primary school in Lahore said that according to the SED’s instructions, school heads were required to keep schools open and facilitate the dengue inspection teams.

Ali said at least 50,000 out of 57,000 principals went to schools on Thursday.

On Friday (today), similar dengue inspections will be carried out in public schools of the province. The inspections are to conclude on Sunday.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2013.