- Educational institutions reopen after extended winter vacations amidst security concerns
With a renewed commitment and enthusiasm to continue their mission of acquiring knowledge whatever the circumstances are, students of all educational institutions in Islamabad resumed academic activities on Monday after winter vacations.
The winter vacations for all educational institutions were extended by the authorities in the federal capital after the Peshawar incident. The institutions have now reopened after adopting comprehensive security measures.
The educational institutions which remained close for almost three weeks due to the security concerns after the Peshawar incident started their educational activities with prayers for the whole country.
The schools and colleges were directed to adopt sufficient security measures by Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) to ensure proper safety of the students, teachers and other staff, saving them from any untoward incident.
Minister for CADD Barrister Usman Ibrahim, FDE Director General Amir Ashraf Khawaja along with other officials visited different schools and colleges during morning time to check the security measures.
The security guards, deputed in the institutions, were also given training by the police officials to cope with any untoward situation.
The authorities directed to raise the boundary walls of schools and colleges, fixing barb wires over boundary walls, purchase metal detectors to check every person entering into school and college and install CCTVs where needed.
The security guards were also deputed in the sensitive institutions while the police would patrol around schools and colleges at opening and closing hours, according to the decision of the authorities.
Shafugta Mahmood, a teacher of a local college said, “The enthusiasm of the students today was worth seeing today and they were more energetic to join their studies after long vacations.”
“I have not seen any fear in the eyes of the children and they started their day with new pledge to stand against extremist mindset,” she said.
A parent of a school-going girl, Khakwani Hussain said, “The security arrangements in the schools and colleges are not sufficient and the authorities must ensure proper safety of the children.”
“I have not sent my daughter to the school on the reopening day after long vacations as usually very few students join the schools on the first day,” he added.
He said, “The students after long vacations become lethargic and come in routine with the passage of time. They will also take time to get normalize after such a horrifying incident of Peshawar school.”
Earlier, the winter vacations were announced by the authorities from December 22nd till 31st, however these were extended by the authorities till January 11 due to security concerns after the Peshawar incident.
