Tension rising between KP govt, private schools over reopening issue

PESHAWAR: Tension is increasing between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and private educational institutions over the issue of reopening of schools after a long break due to coronavirus pandemic.

The KP Education Department has warned the private educational institutions to avoid reopening of schools before September 15 otherwise strict action will be taken against them. On the other hand, the private schools have maintained their decision of reopening of schools from August 15 and announced to hold protests if the government took action against them.

Two days earlier, the Education Department strictly directed the private schools to avoid reopening the schools before September 15. The parents have also been directed not to send their children to schools even if they are called by the respective managements.

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 Private Education Network in KP has also held meetings with civil society, lawyers and minister for reopening of schools, but no conclusion was achieved. However, the statement of the government about taking action against the schools for not acting upon its directives may further complicate the situation.

Private Education Network Senior Vice President Fazlullah Daudzai said their decision about reopening of the schools has united all the associations of private schools. He 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. Fazlullah said the cinema halls and tourist resorts have been reopened where a large number of children are seen with their families without following any standard operating procedures (SOPs). However, he said, the non-serious attitude of the government about educational institutions is beyond comprehension. 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.