Lack of basic facilities in over 60 per cent schools in Rawalpindi division

Rawalpindi schools lack basic facilities

60% schools in Rawalpindi district lack basic facilities
Rawalpindi, Jan 13: Lack of basic facilities in over 60 per cent schools in Rawalpindi division is proof of the provincial government's negligence in providing education, which is a basic right and the only way poor can extricate them from poverty.

Majority of schools have no roofs forcing the students to study in open atmosphere in all four seasons. There are a lot of other public schools that lack infrastructure. Many schools have no furniture in classrooms, and lack teaching staff, toilets, clean drinking water and playgrounds.

Clean drinking water has always been a big issue for public schools. A number of schools in the district have no water tanks and some that have them, don't have drinkable water. A number of public school students get sick after drinking water from these tanks.

The Executive Director of Education Department, Rawalpindi, Qazi Zahoor-ul-Haq commenting over the report agreed to the fact that the condition of schools in Rawalpindi division is not good however, the percentage of affected schools is not more than 60, he added. Around 40 per cent schools are deprived of basic facilities, requiring revamping and reconstruction works, the EDO stated.

Qazi Zahoor-ul-Haq informed that the Punjab government has recently approved, allocated and released Rs18 million for the revamping and renovation of educational institutions in Rawalpindi. The funds for this purpose were announced in a recent meeting held under the chairmanship of Secretary Education, Punjab, the EDO said adding the work on improving the condition of remaining schools would be done in accordance with the release of funds.

About the shortage of teaching staff, the EDO informed that the Punjab government on January 3, 2011 approved the proposal of education directorate to recruit the teachers/instructors for the institutes where they are needed.

The process of filing up the vacant posts would kick off by the end of March this year. However, he expressed his reservation as to say how many vacant posts of teaching staff would be filled. The position would clear out after March 31 that how many posts would be filled. It depends upon the Punjab government, Qazi Zahoor remarked.

To yet another question, the EDO demanded allocation of 5 per cent funds for the Punjab Education department out of the total provincial budget. It would be greatly helpful in promoting the education in the province, he added.

The government must concentrate on the education sector and take revolutionary steps to improve it. The primary education sector needs to be standardised according to modern education systems. If the primary education syllabi and system is standardised according to modern needs, it could help the country develop.