Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah had announced that summer vacations in all schools of the province will start from June 1 (today), many private institutions have decided to keep running their academic activities this month, with some arguing that they are doing so because they needed time to “prepare for vacations and handing out homework.” These schools will keep running till June 15, Pakistan Today has learnt.
A number of private schools – mostly associated with the Private School Management Association (PSMA) and the All Private Education Institutions Sindh (APEIS) – sent their students on leave from May 31 (Tuesday), thereby following the summer vacations schedule handed out for public sector institutions. Their decision is also in line with the instructions handed out by Directorate of Private Institutions Sindh (DPIS) Director Mansoob Ahmed Siddiqui, who had directed the administrations of private schools to adhere to the CM’s orders or face cancellation of their registrations with the directorate.
The private schools’ association sought one week to complete preparations for summer vacations, but now, some schools are set to ignore the CM’s orders altogether. Schools affiliated with PEAK Private Schools Management Association Sindh and United Private School Management Front had announced continuing academic activities in June and going on vacations from July. Some schools, however, are taking the middle route, going on vacations from June 15.
All Private Education Institutions Sindh (APEIS) Chairman Khalid Khan told Pakistan Today that many schools could not complete preparations for summer vacation syllabus, and they need time to hand over homework to their students. He said various associations of private schools have requested the DPIS to allow some relaxation in rules to private schools who failed to complete preparations in time due to confusion.
Khan claimed that the DPIS has agreed to allow some private schools to continue their operations work homework duties were finalised, but routine classes would not be held.