Aamir Majeed
The situation of bad governance in Sindh could be evaluated from the fact that it failed to restrict even the private educational institutions from allocating leaves to the students on account of cold wave, it is reliably learnt.
There were reports that many private educational institutions in Karachi have allocated leaves to the students on account of cold wave from January 17 till January 22. On the other hand, many others have announced vacations from January 23 following the prediction of the Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD) that the intensity of the cold wave may increase because of more rains in the coming week.
It is pertinent to mention here that private educational institutions requested the provincial government to approve week-long vacations in educational institutions of Karachi from January 16 to January 22 because of increasing intensity of recent cold wave.
As per details, many privately-run educational institutes in Karachi have announced vacations, keeping in view PMD’s forecast of intense cold wave in the city in the coming week because of expected rainfall. The met office report claims that a fresh system of rain would enter Balochistan from Iran and forecasted rains in Sindh, including Karachi, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
There were reports that many private schools—mostly located in slums of the bordering areas of the city—have allocated leaves to the students. Talking to Pakistan Today, a class-V student of a private school situated at Natha Khan Goth claimed that the school administration claimed that the school will remain closed from January 23 (Monday) until January 29 (Sunday).
Private Schools Management Association (PSMA) Chairman, Sharfuzzaman, while talking to Pakistan Today, verified the reports and claimed that some privately-run educational institutions in the city have granted leaves to their students because of predicted intense cold wave. He maintained that the private schools may go on leaves following an increase in the intensity of recent cold wave.
On the other hand, there were some private educational institutions, which had already granted leaves to their students from January 17 till January 22. A student of Kent College of Science and Commerce claimed that they [college students] were on leaves since January 17 because of cold weather.
On verification of the student’s claim, it has been established that the private college granted leaves to its students without informing the Directorate of Private Educational Institutions Sindh (DPEIS).
However, the college owner, Anis Ahmed, when approached for comments, rejected the student’s claim and maintained that the classes in the educational institute are going on as per schedule without any break. He claimed others educational institutes had granted leaves, but his educational centre is open after winter vacations and classes were ongoing as per schedule.
