|
Lyari's street schools a beacon of hope
KARACHI, Nov 12, 2007: Street schools are a distinct feature of Lyari as they
are not found in any other part of the city. Hasht Chowk is known for such
schools, where the open streets serve as classrooms while the walls turn into
blackboards.
The schools, supported by various NGOs, are lit with
street-lights as they have odd timings: 4pm to 11pm. Primary classes begin from
4pm and end at 6pm, while secondary classes start at 6pm, higher secondary at
8pm, followed by graduates while adult education classes continue till
11pm.
There are two main reasons why these schools have been set up and
why they are immensely popular. Firstly, Lyari is notorious for is gang wars and
the associated problems they cause. As soon as bullets ricochet in the area,
people run for their lives and day-to-day life comes to a
standstill.
Secondly, parents in the area can hardly afford to send their
children to private schools, while the level of education offered at government
schools is far from satisfactory. There was a time when there were more than 50
schools in Lyari. However, now they number no more than 10.
The street
schools charge a nominal fee of Rs25 for primary classes, Rs50 for secondary and
Rs100 for intermediate classes. The students number about 100 or so. Rotary
Street School, one such school, has a teaching staff of 15 to 20, while it opens
at 4pm.
Children wearing no uniforms sit in a corner of the street, which
is separated by a cloth partition. Here they study two subjects a
day.
"We have two hours for one section. So a teacher is teaching at
times two or three classes, therefore it is convenient that similar subjects are
taught," said Sohail Ahmed Rahi, project manager of the Rotary Street
School.
The teachers, working in shifts at the school, teach free of
cost. They are helped by the administration in terms of fees if they want to
study further. In this way not only do the students get an education but poor,
jobless youths are also given a chance to continue their own
education.
Interestingly, the ratio of female students is more than that
of the male ones. "Over a period of some years, girl students have taken more
interest in studies and are more regular. They make up almost 60 per cent of the
total students," said Rahi. When the kids were asked what professions they
wanted to pursue, the majority of the girls said doctor while the boys preferred
teaching or expressed their desire to become pilots.
Costly
intervals
One of the teachers at the school, Jalil, said that the
gang war in the area has hampered their system very much. "We hardly have
regular classes now. Every other day we come to know that the situation in the
area is tense so parents are afraid to send their children to school," he
pointed out. The schools that were supposed to have resumed three or four months
ago could not do so due to the uncertain conditions.
The students and
teachers both complain that because of the long intervals between school
sessions, the children have already forgotten much of what had been taught.
"Most of these children belong to families that are not very educated. So when
there are no classes in session, the parents hardly ever bother to teach their
children themselves," said Jalil.
And the abrupt breaks in the school
sessions showed. When the children were asked basic general knowledge questions
by this reporter, they could hardly answer. Out of 20 kids attending the school,
only two or three knew what they had studied.
Wannabe
gangsters
And in the absence of a proper education system, the
children of Lyari have begun to be greatly influenced by the local gangsters.
"Teenagers seem to be fascinated by the very idea of guns and violence. And the
reason for this is the lack of recreational facilities and constant disturbances
in their education. The youngest gang member is said to be an eleven-year-old
boy, who has been given a gun," said a teacher.
When asked if the parents
were aware of the situation and the direction their children were heading in, he
said "Of course they are aware. But they cannot ask the child to leave the gang,
as the moment he even suggests this, the child will be
killed."
Considering the current state of affairs, Lyari's street schools
are one of the locality's few rays of hope. Dawn
Your Comments
"Hi, Its really nice to hear that, even in such difficult conditions, you try your best to provide education to thenunprivileged youth. Is the school still in function these days. I am currently studying in Cyprus. Back in pakistan for my vacation ..22 days. Are there any street school in clifton somewhere. I was looking forward to help if possible.. Thankyou, Kind Regards, Ajay Pinjani"
Name: Ajay Pinjani
Email: ajay.pinjani1@yahoo.com
City, Country: Karachi, Pakistan
|
