Dual policy of the Sindh government divided the educational institutions of the province over the issue of summer vacations, it is reliably learnt. Uncertainty prevailed in the province’s educational institutions after revision in summer vacation schedule under which the summer vacations were rescheduled from June-July to July-August after the approval of Sindh Chief Minister.
Many private schools functioning under both Matric School System and Cambridge School System declined to follow the orders of Sindh government and announced that the summer vacations would be held in June and July. The owners of these schools have sent a summary to Chief Minister Sindh to revive its decision and announce vacations in July-August. At other hand, a large number of private schools have announced that they would follow provincial government orders and observe summer vacation in July and August.
However, the public-run educational institutions would observe summer vacations in July and August as per orders of provincial government. This has caused panic in the province and the teachers, students and their parents were confused that weather summer vacations would be held in June-July or July-August.
Recalling the promise made by Sindh Senior Minister for Education Pir Mazhar-ul Haq in last year education department steering committee, President Private School Management Association (PSMA) Sharfuzzaman said that the education minister last year assured the private schools that the summer vacations from this year would be held in July and August in respect of holy month of Ramazan.
“We have placed our demands before steering committee in 2011 that the summer vacations in province’s educational institutions should be observed in July and August instead of June and July in respect of the holy month. The education minister lauded our suggestion and assured us that next year (2012) the summer vacations would be held on July and August and requested us to observe summer vacations in June and July. We honoured request of education minister and observed summer vacation in June and July.”
“This year again the matter was discussed in the provincial education department steering committee and again the education department has announced that the summer vacations would be held in June and July. We made hue and cry over miss-commitment of the education minister. Then it was decided that the education department would send a summary to chief minister for approval that the summer vacations in all province’s educational institutions would be held in July and August.”
“At the end of May this year, the chief minister has announced that summer vacations would be held in July and August. Cambridge School System and some of Matric School System private institutions protested against revision in summer vacation schedule. Another summary has been sent to chief minister to revive its decision.”
“This has caused confusion in parents, students and teachers that weather the summer vacations would be held in June and July or July and August. Now, 50 percent private schools have decided to hold summer vacation in July and August and 30 percent of private schools have announced that they would observe summer vacations in June and July while those private educational institutions which are functioning under Cambridge School System has issued summer vacations from the next month (June-July).”
“Now, we are in a fix over division of educational institutions on summer vacations and parents and students are forcing us to allow them summer vacations in June and July. “We are observing the situation and would decide later to observe summer vacations in June-July or July August,” Sharfuzzaman concluded.
Cambridge School System Spokesman Fasi Zaka said that they have issued summer vacations in the educational institutions functioning under them. It is not possible for us to observe summer vacations in July and August as our academic year start from August 01 and end at May 31. We issue two months summer vacations in June and July and it is system which is run by foreign countries and we can not amend this system. Summer vacations in all schools functioning under Cambridge school system would be held in June and July, he announced.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Director Private Institutions Sindh Prof Mansoob Ahmed Siddiqui said that the steering committee in his meeting on February 08, 2012 has decided that the summer vacations in all educational institutions of the Sindh province would be held in June and July.
“A group of private schools have made hue and cry over decision of the steering committee decision during the meeting and it was finally decided that another meeting of all stakeholders would be held later to discuss this issue. The said meeting held after delay of two months on May 04 and it was decided that the education department would send a summary to Chief Minister Sindh in which the department underline demands of some private schools that the summer vacations should be observed in July and August instead of June and July.”
“In the summary private schools claimed that it would be difficult for them to continue the academic activities during the holy month of Ramazan which may fall at the end of July. Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah has approved the summary and a notification was issued that the summer vacations in all educational institutions of Sindh would be held on July and August instead of June and July. Over this announcement of the Sindh government, many private schools, functioning under Cambridge School System, Aga Khan Board and Matric school system, have lodged a protest with Sindh Education Secretary Siddique Memon.” “Then the secretaries held another meeting of opposite party and sent another summary to Chief Minister Sindh for review his decision and announce that the summer vacations in all educational institutions would be held in June and July. The chief minister yet to respond to the second summary that resulted into confusion that weather the summer vacations would be held in June and July or July and August.”
“In order to cope with any untoward situation, the directorate has given an option to all the private schools that they can observe summer vacation in June-July or July-August, but they were asked to submit letters to the Directorate of Private Educational Institutions Sindh that they would examine summer vacations in June-July or July-August,” Mansoob added. Secretary Education Sindh Siddique Memon said that the summer vacations in all the public-run educational institutions would be observed in July and August as per notification issued by the chief minister.
“He said the education department had sent a counter summary to chief minister on demand of Cambridge School System to hold summer vacations in June and July and revive his decision but the chief minister yet to respond the counter summary. The situation would be cleared after response from chief minister house,” the education secretary said.
