On the war path: Private schools to defy order on extended vacations

Pechuho warns to cancel registration of schools flouting official orders

KARACHI:

Education secretary Fazlullah Pechuho has warned the private schools associations to reopen schools from August 11 as per the notification issued by the government or else strict action will be taken against them.

"If any student will be affected by the rain or flood, an FIR will be registered against these associations, who are just thinking about fees collection," Pechuho told The Express Tribune.

The warning came after the private schools management, announced in a press conference on Friday that schools will reopen from August 3 held after the notification was issued by the Education secretary.

Read: Summer holidays: Proposal for extension in school vacations

The registration of those schools will be cancelled that will reopen on August 3, breaching the official notification from the education department and a fine will be imposed on them, said Pechuho.

Pechuho said that the majority of schools have accepted the orders while only some associations are making a mountain out of a mole. The Pakistan meteorological department has also predicted rains in the first week of August, he added. Who will then be responsible if any mishap happens in school, he questioned.



In response to Pechuho's warning, Public Private Management Association chairperson Haider Ali told The Express Tribune that they will resist it and are even willing to go to court. "We are not concerned with the government's action against us. We will open the schools on August 3," he said.

All Private Schools Management Association Sindh chairperson, Khalid Shah, demanded the CM should reject the notification of extension of summer vacations in local schools and colleges.

Read: Summer vacations: ‘Complete syllabus by Friday’

"This extension of ten days in the summer vacations is useless and we demand these orders be taken back," said Shah. "Almost all the schools agree with us and will reopen from August 3 despite the government notification," he added.

More than 77 per cent of students in Karachi are enrolled in private schools, said Ali. This decision will affect their studies and academic year, he added.

All those areas and districts which are not affected from floods and rains should be allowed to open schools on the date decided by the steering committee, said Shah. Private schools have to complete their syllabi on time, and schools will probably be closed during local body elections due to law and order situation of the city, he pointed out.

"If no official will take back these orders then private school managements will reopen schools from August 3 regardless of the consequences," announced Shah. "We are ready to face punishments and other charges."

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2015.