Anti-dengue campaign: Five schools served notices

Deputy District Education Officer says the action was taken after findings presented by the dengue audit team

TAXILA:

The education department has taken stern action against various private and public schools in Taxila and Wah Cantonment for violating health guidelines in the ongoing campaign against dengue in the district, where the virus has reached an alarming level.

Deputy District Education Officer Abdul Khaliq said the action was taken after findings presented by the dengue audit team, who reported larvae discovered at the schools.

He said as many as five private schools, two in Wah Cantonment and three in Taxila, were served show-cause notices on Saturday for failing to follow hygiene SOPs regarding dengue prevention.

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Khaliq said the department would cancel the registration of these schools and initiate legal action against the administration. Responding a question, he said that the action is not limited to the private sector, but public sector schools are under strict vigilance as well.

He added that two teachers from Government Primary School Shahpur and Government Primary School Mohra Shah Wali Shah were served notices and suspended for violating health guidelines. All principals had been directed to take part in the anti-dengue campaign to avoid an outbreak of the virus in educational institutions. Dengue surveillance is being carried out in the entire tehsil, he added.

“Local administration is monitoring areas declared high risk zones,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2015.