Historic school suffering from encroachment, lack of repairs

The 159-year-old GovernmentChristianHigherSecondary School in Raja Bazaar has become a picture of neglect for the last many years as education authorities continue to shirk their responsibilities and refuse to do anything to get the institute out of its terrible condition.

The school, which is spread over 37 kanal of land, has now been limited to 26 kanals after land mafia has encroached upon its property. According to records, the land was handed over to Christians in 1856 to set up the school. The school used to have a big library but that was later demolished to construct a hostel for the students.

The school has more than 15 rooms, a common hall but its ceilings and walls have cracked and chipped away, and rainwater trickles through the ceiling, forcing the staff and students to take shelter in the main hall when it rains.

The school management said that the education authorities have been contacted repeatedly to draw their attention to the crippling issue, but all pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

Hotel and plaza owners next to the school building often dump their trash into the school ground, as a result there is a constant pungent smell stuck to the entire premises.

The school building has become exposed to several disasters and a big tragedy could not be ruled out if the authorities concerned did not take any pre-emptive measures.

Meanwhile, Principal Malik Zafar Khan said that no further encroachment of the school land would be allowed as long as he was at the helm of the affairs. He demanded that the education department announce an emergency plan for the situation. He said that several cases were pending in courts to retrieve the encroached land. He said that he has brought the issue to the notice of the authorities, but has not been given any response in this regard.