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So, will schools remain closed or what?
Karachi, Oct 17: Uncertainty prevails amongst school-going children, as schools
opening after four days of Eid holidays on Wednesday were worried about whether
or not schools will be closed on Thursday - the day PPP leader Benazir Bhutto
returns after eight years of self-imposed exile.
Making things worse for
parents, teachers and students, is that the answer to this question was not even
known to the government, who plans hold a meeting on Wednesday in this regard.
The decision of this meeting is slated to be announced late on Wednesday night,
compelling parents, teachers and students to wait in the dark.
With the
major arteries leading towards the airport expected to remain closed for
security reasons and a lack of public transport, most of the educational
institutions, which opened on Wednesday having remained closed since the 21st of
Ramazan, may be compelled to see another holiday.
The situation for
school students would be clearer on Wednesday when they attend schools. The
government officials are unclear about the situation. Secretary Education,
Subhago Khan Jatoi, when contacted, said that if any decision comes from the
high-ups at the chief minister level regarding closure of schools, then his
department would be able to make some announcement in this regard.
He,
however, said that as all the government and private schools were closed for Eid
holidays and all announcements to this effect would be made on Wednesday and
that too after the chief minister's decision.
When asked about the
absence of transport on the day, he simply replied he is not in a position to
comment on this. Only chief minister's orders would be obeyed.
Parents
were quite sceptical, saying that such situations occured off and on, constantly
disturbing the academic schedule, and were of the opinion no matter what the
situation, educational institutions should never be closed. They felt it was the
responsibility of the government to provide protection to schools.
Some
of them said that even political parties should plan in such a manner that their
programmes do not affect students. They said parents were only concerned about
the law and order situation and if that is maintained they would not be worried.
Unfortunately, they said, neither political parties nor government
officials have ever thought of the students who suffered at the hands of these
people. Already at the lowest rung, the country's education sector suffered even
more because of such unannounced plans, they said.
The government, they
said, must chalk out plans and measures to be taken so that studies were not
hindered at any cost. The News
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