PESHAWAR: The Private Education Council has announced to stage a massive sit-in in Peshawar on September 01 over not allowing the private schools to reopen.

The administration of private educational institutions, teachers, students and their parents will attend the sit-in.

Decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the Private Education Council headed by its convener Fazal Hussain. Senior deputy convener Noorul Qudoos, deputy convener Mushtaq Kakakhel, Iqra Tahaffuz Taleem provincial president Gul Nabi Musazai, Peshawar chapter president Amjid Hussain, HOPE provincial president Aqeel Razzaq, Private Schools Association provincial president Ahmed Ali Darwaish, APSMA provincial president Dr Zakir Shah, Likeminded provincial president Sultan Muhammad, representatives of private schools from Haripur, Swat, Malakand, Swabi, Mardan, Takht Bhai and other areas attended the meeting.

While addressing the meeting, Gul Nabi Musazai said keeping the educational institutions closed won’t benefit anyone. He said the continuous closure of educational institutions is ruining the future of students. He said private educational institutions are closed for the last many months, while the government’s indifferent attitude in this regard has further disappointed them.

Mr Musazai said the government was informed about the difficulties of private educational institutions several times, but the government is least bothered to address their problems. He said almost all the associations of private educational institutions will participate in the sit-in, which will be a proof of the government’s incompetence. He said the protest will continue till acceptance of demands.

Participants of the meeting said the government has reopened all sectors except educational institutions which is beyond comprehension. They demanded the government to immediately reopen the schools to save the future of students.

Views are divided on the reopening of the schools with some political parties, civil society members and activists supporting the schools reopening, while others opposing it.

The government and others who still opine that the schools should remain shut are of the opinion that although the coronavirus is on its way out in Pakistan, but it is not defeated fully and there is likelihood that it can return with even more intensity if precautionary measures were not followed. They say nothing is more important than the safety of children.