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Schools, colleges lack security
Rawalpindi, March 13, 2008: Lack of security at
educational institutions is worrying the teachers, students and their parents
due to current wave of suicide bombings in the country.
Although
law-enforcement agencies have heightened security in the city, no security has
been provided to the government educational institutions.
During visit
to different educational institutions on Wednesday, It was learnt that
private schools and colleges had hired services of private security agencies to
protect the lives of teachers and students.
Government institutions:
Contrary to the private educational institutions, the teachers and students of
government educational institutions are feeling insecure, as the law-enforcement
agencies have not formulated any security plan for them.
Muhammad Nauman,
a student of Government Gordon College, Rawalpindi, said the law-enforcement
agencies should devise some plan to provide security to educational
institutions. "We feel insecure at the college," he said.
Ghazala Jabeen,
a student of Waqar-un-Nisa Government Postgraduate College, said her parents
were worried about her, as they knew there were no security arrangements at the
college. She said her teachers and class fellows were also feeling
insecure.
Qamar Abbas, a student of Government Degree College Satellite
Town, Rawalpindi, said that students had asked the administration
for security measures and had volunteered to make arrangements to avoid any
untoward incident. He said it was not possible for law-enforcement agencies to
deploy security officials at every college and school.
"It has become
quite difficult for students and teachers to focus on studies, as there is no
security at school, "said Mrs Atiya, a teacher at Government Higher Secondary
School Murree Road. She said the authorities should pay attention to schools and
colleges security.
Muhammad Saeed, whose children study at Government
Primary School, Khyaban-e-Sir Syed, said students and teachers were more
vulnerable to bombing during rush at schools' gates in the morning and afternoon
times. He said security officials should be deputed at gates during these
timings.
Rawal Town of Police Superintendent Khurum Shahzad said that police were patrolling the educational institutions to avoid any
untoward situation.
He said Muhaffiz Force had been specially directed
to remain alert around the schools and colleges to protect the teachers and
students. He said police would also be deployed at the government girls' schools
and colleges.
Students concerned over security at schools
Lahore: The students of several institutes denounced Tuesday's bombings on the
FIA building and in Model Town, saying security at their institutes was not good
enough to stop terrorists.
Attendance at schools remained low on
Wednesday and the bombings remained the central topic of discussion. Students
said the attacks had shaken the city and that the country was being pushed into
turmoil. "Terrorism has take the city into its grip and even educational
institutes are not safe, but the government is still unable to take any concrete
steps to deal with the menace," they said.
Arooj, a Lahore Grammar School
student, said her parents were afraid to send her to school. "We students are
worried and feel threatened and insecure," she added.
Sadaf, a Lahore
College for Women University (LCWU) student, said the university had not enough
security and that anyone could enter the school. "The Tuesday's bombings have
made everyone sad here," she said.
"It is senseless that students have
become targets of terrorism. We go to school for education. We don't have
anything to do with the government's policies," asked Abrar, a Punjab University
student.
Several institutes have increased security and checking every
person entering their premises. Government College University Communications
Adviser Iqbal Anjum said the GCU vice chancellor had issued special instructions
for security arrangements. "All entrance gates will be guarded around the
clock," he said. LCWU Vice Chancellor Prof Bushra Mateen said it was impossible
to make foolproof security arrangements with the limited resources the school
had. "If the FIA was unable to fend off suicide attacks, how can we claim to do
so," she asked. She said students had been asked not to sit in the ground and
try to stay in class most of the time. The All Pakistan Private Schools Welfare
Association has asked member schools to devise their own security plans to avoid
similar attacks because dozens of students were injured in Tuesday bombings. The
Education Department had earlier issued a warning to schools and had asked them
to make necessary security arrangements. Daily Times
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