Where to, now?: Closure of school sparks protests on Kohat Road
Benevolent Fund Cell official says board decided to close down school in phases.
Protesters burnt tyres and raised slogans against the provincial government for not taking appropriate measures in this regard. PHOTO: PPI
PESHAWAR:
Scores of enraged students, parents and teachers took to the streets on Saturday after Benevolent Public School on Kohat Road in the provincial capital was permanently closed down.
Earlier this week, the school’s administration had decided to close down the school and told parents to enroll their children at other schools. As a result, protesters gathered on Kohat Road, demanding the administration to take back its decision.
They burnt tyres and raised slogans against the provincial government for not taking appropriate measures in this regard.
Hassan Ali, a parent who participated in the protest, claimed the school’s administration had announced the school’s closure without providing prior notice to parents and students.
“This is a form of injustice,” he said. “The deadlines for admission at other schools have already passed. At this rate, the future of our children will be at stake.”
Ali urged the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to take immediate notice and ensure the school remains open.
Shad Khan, another parent, said over 300 students were enrolled at Benevolent Public School when it was closed down. “Parents will face difficulty in admitting their children to other schools,” he said. “I request the government to provide the institute with adequate funding as the future of so many students is on the line.”
The other view
An official of the Benevolent Fund Cell, who requested anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the school had been funded by Benevolent Fund employees.
“However, the problem arose because employees who hailed from various districts of the province were funding a school in Peshawar,” he added.
According to the official, the board of directors was left with the option of either establishing similar schools in all districts from where funds were being received or close down the school altogether. “After joint consultation among all members, the board had decided to close down the school in phases,” he said.
The official said the school stopped admitting new students since 2010. Moreover, its college branch and girls section had already been closed down. “Before the administration decided to shut the school, there were 315 students enrolled,” he added.
Speaking to journalists in the provincial capital on Thursday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Fazal Elahi said the government had taken a series of steps to prevent the school’s closure in 2014.
“This year, the administration has decided to suddenly close down the school and did not include all stakeholders in the consultation process,” he said.
Elahi vowed to form a committee to address this matter.
“We will involve Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and ensure the school remains open so that students are not barred from getting an education,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2015.
Scores of enraged students, parents and teachers took to the streets on Saturday after Benevolent Public School on Kohat Road in the provincial capital was permanently closed down.
Earlier this week, the school’s administration had decided to close down the school and told parents to enroll their children at other schools. As a result, protesters gathered on Kohat Road, demanding the administration to take back its decision.
They burnt tyres and raised slogans against the provincial government for not taking appropriate measures in this regard.
Hassan Ali, a parent who participated in the protest, claimed the school’s administration had announced the school’s closure without providing prior notice to parents and students.
“This is a form of injustice,” he said. “The deadlines for admission at other schools have already passed. At this rate, the future of our children will be at stake.”
Ali urged the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to take immediate notice and ensure the school remains open.
Shad Khan, another parent, said over 300 students were enrolled at Benevolent Public School when it was closed down. “Parents will face difficulty in admitting their children to other schools,” he said. “I request the government to provide the institute with adequate funding as the future of so many students is on the line.”
The other view
An official of the Benevolent Fund Cell, who requested anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the school had been funded by Benevolent Fund employees.
“However, the problem arose because employees who hailed from various districts of the province were funding a school in Peshawar,” he added.
According to the official, the board of directors was left with the option of either establishing similar schools in all districts from where funds were being received or close down the school altogether. “After joint consultation among all members, the board had decided to close down the school in phases,” he said.
The official said the school stopped admitting new students since 2010. Moreover, its college branch and girls section had already been closed down. “Before the administration decided to shut the school, there were 315 students enrolled,” he added.
Speaking to journalists in the provincial capital on Thursday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Fazal Elahi said the government had taken a series of steps to prevent the school’s closure in 2014.
“This year, the administration has decided to suddenly close down the school and did not include all stakeholders in the consultation process,” he said.
Elahi vowed to form a committee to address this matter.
“We will involve Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and ensure the school remains open so that students are not barred from getting an education,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2015.