SWAT: In violation of the government directives, some private schools were reopened on Saturday after a closure of five months due to coronavirus outbreak in Swat which resulted in the arrest of several principals.
Last week, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet endorsed the decisions of NCOC regarding the reopening of schools from September 15 and made it clear that schools violating the government directions will face action.
However, despite clear directions from the government, the management of private schools in Swat have reopened their schools, but the attendance remained low. Some of the parents were also seen dropping their children to schools.
Police conducted raids in Barikot and Kabal tehsils and arrested principals of the schools which were reopened.
However, the management of private schools accused the administration of acting against small-level schools only. They said they cannot allow further wastage of precious time of students.
On Friday, the private educational institutions in Kohat had also announced to reopen schools and colleges from today. They had said that strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be observed, timings will be reduced and only schools and colleges from grade 6 and above will be reopened. It was also announced that only compulsory subjects would be taught till the full resumption of educational activities.
However, the government has said that schools could not be opened before September 15 and anyone doing this will face action. Only few schools have opened today in different parts of KP, while most of them are still closed.
The government has also directed the parents not to send their children to schools even if they are called by the respective managements of private schools.
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.
Peshawar’s Private Education Network Senior Vice President Fazlullah Daudzai said the government’s decision has put the future of 10,000 private educational institutions, 2.4 million students and 150,000 teachers in KP on stake. He said massive protest will be held if the government put any hurdle in reopening of private schools.
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.
