Voicing concerns: ‘Govt should ensure fair distribution of funds’

Distinction between school systems will foster social inequality, says APPSWA central president.

PESHAWAR:

The All Pakistan Private Schools Welfare Association (APPSWA) Central President Shabbir Ahmad said it is the government’s duty to ensure fair distribution and utilisation of funds received from international organisations for the overall development of the education sector.

Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Monday, Ahmad said the purpose of both private and government-owned schools is to impart quality education and improve society’s standards of living. Distinction and discrimination between the two will only add to social inequalities, he maintained.

He was accompanied by several federation officials. Ahmad said schoolteachers and faculty should form trade unions in order to voice their concerns and protect their rights.

The APPSWA central president urged the government to establish education commissions at federal and provincial levels. “The commissions should regularise all educational institutions in the country,” he said.

Ahmed was of the view that it is necessary for the government to regulate religious education at schools to halt the unwarranted mushrooming  of seminaries that foster regressive behaviour.

APPSWA representatives from Kashmir also addressed the conference, saying the region should be treated at par with the rest of the country.

Govt seeks report

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has sought a report on security arrangements of educational institutes and ordered district administrations to take action against heads of government schools not heeding directions.

The government will also issue NOCs to Government High School, Zaryab Colony; Government Higher Secondary School, Cantt No-1; Government Girls High School, Jogeyara; Shaheed Benazir Women University Peshawar and 45 other government schools, colleges and universities in the province.

Not only arms were provided to Class-IV employees at these schools, but CCTV cameras were also installed in various corners of the buildings.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2015.