The City District Government Karachi (CDGK)’s dream to repair its schools in each town of the metropolis so that they can be presented as models never materialised as the provincial government refused to release funds for the project, Pakistan Today has learnt. Two years have passed since the project was launched by the CDGK under the aegis of its Committee for Monitoring and Improvement of School (CMIS), but the construction and renovation work of the schools never took place, well-placed sources in the CDGK’s Education Department told Pakistan Today.
The CMIS was overseeing 40 model schools in all 18 towns of the city. Initially, the project was scheduled to begin in 2006, but could not be started due to a delay in the release of funds and some administrative problems. Finally, it was launched in August 2007 at a cost of Rs 570 million. The city government was supposed to repair classrooms, build additional classrooms boundary walls and toilets of the schools. Around 40 schools were selected by the City District Government Karachi that were supposed to become model schools after being rebuilt and renovated under the new project.
Four new schools were also supposed to be set up under the project including the Government Boys Secondary School in Sector 5-B of North Karachi, the GBSS Ebrahim Ali Bhai School in Sector 9 of Orangi, the Government Girls Secondary School University Road Campus and the Government Girls Secondary School in P&T Colony. According to sources, the contractors refused to carry on working when they were not paid after they had finished repairs in three or four towns and financial constraints restricted the City District Government Karachi authorities from going ahead with the project.
So far, the renovation work has been completed in only five schools out of 40 and closure of these schools is affecting the education of students enrolled in them.