Facing consequences: Authorities to take action against private schools refusing to help in polio campaign

District Central DC holds press conference with private school association chief

KARACHI: Those private schools in District Central that are not ready to take an active part in eradicating polio will face action, said District Central deputy commissioner Dr Saifur Rehman at a press conference on Tuesday.

He was accompanied by the chairperson of All Private Schools Management Association, Sindh, Syed Khalid Shah. The two were discussing the various issues faced by private schools.



Rehman pointed out that it was very easy to give polio drops to children in school rather than visiting each and every house. That is why their team decided to approach the schools directly. "Unfortunately, private schools are unwilling to cooperate with us," he said. "Most schools claimed they have to seek the parents' permission before they can give us access to their students," he added.

Rehman maintained that polio eradication campaign is nothing short of a war. "Pakistan is one of the only three countries in the world where this menace is still present," he pointed out. "Last year, 330 cases of polio surfaced and 30 of these were from the Sindh." He pledged to reduce this number to zero this year, adding that the government has already come up with national emergency plans.

According to Rehman, there are as many as 1,500 private schools and madressas in District Central. "All of these schools were informed via letters about the arrival of the polio teams in their areas," he said. "But they failed to comply with the orders given in the letter."



Rehman warned that when there is such a national emergency, no school or educational institute can reject their orders. "It is mandatory for all schools to comply with the orders of our polio teams, dispatched in their areas." Shah also supported Rehman's call to take action against those schools that refuse to cooperate. He agreed that schools must take the lead in eradicating polio.

He clarified that the entire area will be cordoned off when a polio team is scheduled to visit the schools in order to prevent any untoward incident.

Security concerns

The deputy commissioner also mentioned the security plan in place for schools. After the Peshawar tragedy, an effective security plan was drawn up by the law enforcement agencies, he said, adding that it includes the construction of strong barricades, scrutiny of teaching and non-teaching staff and a traffic management plan during school hours.

"However, it is not possible to deploy a police constable at every school of the city," he said. "However, the SHO of every area will visit the schools during school hours every now and then. Rangers are already deployed in the areas where there are several private schools."

There are several government schools with no boundary walls in Karachi, admitted Rehman, adding that the authorities have met to discuss this issue. "We are going to introduce 'chowkidari nizam' [private guards] in such schools," he said.

Meanwhile, Shah dispelled reports that private schools are charging more fees to meet the cost of hiring additional security. "We disowned such schools and will never let them operate under our umbrella," he said. There are, however, some private schools that cannot afford to enhance their security, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2015.