Thin attendance in schools over fear of aftershocks

Islamabad: Panicked by the 8.1 earthquake, which struck the city a day ago, most parents opted not to send their children to schools on Tuesday fearing for their safety amid reports of possible aftershocks.
The city’s all government educational institutions overseen by the Federal Directorate of Education remained opened in the day.
However, some privately-owned elite schools kept their campus closed for a day to the satisfaction of parents.
“How can I send my little five-year-old boy to school when there is a high likelihood of aftershocks happening? I prefer my child’s safety to education. Maybe I will send him to school next week if the aftershock threat doesn’t subside,” Ambar Khanum, a housewife, told ‘The News’.
However, some parents said they would agree to the decisions of schools of their children about resumption of classes.
“Of course, the earthquake was a real terror but I want everyone in family, including my two little ones, one seven and the other four, to behave sensibly whenever there’re natural and manmade calamities. Now when the earthquake is over, things should get back to normal instantly and, therefore, I would send my children to school when they resume classes,” said Kamran Mujtaba, a senior government official.
At the schools, which were open, students along with teachers and other staff members prayed for those who either lost life or suffered injuries in the earthquake. They also offered special prayers for the wellbeing of the people.