Attendance in schools, colleges remained thin on the first day after the winter break. PHOTO: APP/INP
Educational institutes in twin cities re-opened amid fear and tight security on Monday after an extended winter break prompted by an attack on an army-run school in Peshawar on December 16 last year.
The day again reminded the students, the teachers and the parents of the grief they underwent 26 days ago after terrorists massacred 150 children and several teachers in a gun and bomb attack on the Army Public School and College.
Outsides many schools and colleges, parents were also seen escorting their children to the entry gates as the administrations only allowed the students and the staff to enter buildings after frisking their bags.
“We are not afraid of them. Look, we are here with more resolve and we are united against them,” Muhammad Asad, a 10th grader at the Government Islamia High School Raja Bazaar said while other students flashed victory signs before entering the school building.
At the school, the morning session started with national anthem followed by prayers for the fallen students of the APS.
“Those who massacred the innocent children must be ashamed today that they have failed to push us back to the Stone Age,” said Muazzam Ali, a teacher at the school.
The students were of the view that the government should not have extended the winter vacations as it sent a message to the terrorists that they have succeeded in cowing down the state.
The Rawalpindi City District Government, meanwhile, did not allow two schools in Gujar Khan to open citing security reasons.
During visits to different schools, it was observed that the Rawalpindi administration had made a layer of security arrangements for the educational institutes by installing barbed wires on the boundary walls besides security cameras.
“Our determination is strong and the Peshawar incident has further strengthened it,” said Government Higher Secondary School, Kotli Sathian Headmaster Ziaur Rehman Abbasi. “The nation will not let the terrorists succeed in their nefarious designs,” he remarked.
Private schools had made their own security arrangements by deploying security guards outside their buildings.
Schools on Adiala Road witnessed low attendance while some schools remained closed due to rumours that the district government has directed them to do so. Rumours were rife that the hanging of a prisoner on death row, who is likely to be hanged on Monday night, may spur some trouble in the area.
Executive District Officer (Education) Qazi Zahoorul Haq, however, said that no such directions had been issued.
“All schools were opened today and no such directions were issued,” he said adding that attendance was higher than normal days.
In federal capital
Educational institutes in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) also opened on Monday but students’ attendance remained thin in most schools and colleges.
“Yes, the attendance was less than 50 per cent but it will hopefully improve from tomorrow,” said Rashid Khan, a teacher at the Islamabad College for Boys, Sector G-6. Parents seemed satisfied with the security arrangements.
“Yes, I am satisfied with the security measures but it should be in place throughout the year,” said Abdul Jabbar, while dropping his two sons outside a school.
However, there are 73 schools which are either without or have low boundary walls as the Capital Administration and Development Division and the Federal Directorate (FDE) have failed to release the required funds for the construction work.
FDE Director-General Asif Khawaja said that they were in touch with the Public Works Department to sort out the estimated cost for the construction work before releasing funds.
Minister of State for CADD Barrister Usman Ibrahim, who visited the Islamabad Model College for Girls (IMCG) F-7/2 claimed that foolproof security of educational institutes will be ensured at any costs.
Teams of the capital police also conducted security sessions at 51 educational institutions.
IGP Tahir Alam Khan visited Beaconhouse School F-8/4 campus and IMCG F-7/2 and delivered security-related lectures.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 13th, 2015.
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