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WEEKLY
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| Students back to campuses amid fear |
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Full-scale academic activities yet to resume; institutions grapple with mandatory security; only 45pc implement govt security plan
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
By Our Correspondent
LAHORE
ACADEMIC activities could not resume at all private and public sector educational institutions of the province on Monday as many institutions had failed to implement mandatory security arrangements.
The provincial government closed several schools and colleges as they failed to adopt requisite security measures. Similarly, many missionary schools of the provincial metropolis did not open as the management of these schools was yet to ensure security arrangements.
Though majority of private schools opened on Monday, but academic activities did not resume and students had to return homes. Institutions that opened recorded thin attendance. Interestingly, private schools that were closed to students had strictly asked teachers and administrative staff to ensure their presence on Monday.
Meanwhile, private schools associations also organised meetings and criticized the provincial government for giving them a cold shoulder. The association said that majority of schools that charged nominal fees were unable to meet expenses of arranging requisite security measures such as metal detectors etc.
Government schools, including the Government Girls High School Sanda, were not allowed by the Schools Education Department to open as it deemed their premises insecure. Similarly, majority of public sector colleges in Chakwal district remained closed as security arrangements were not satisfactory.
It is learnt that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif held a meeting to review security arrangements at public and private sector educational institutions of the province. Police officials and Schools Department and Higher Education Department officials also attended the meeting. The CM was briefed that only 45 percent of institutions had ensured 100 percent security arrangements while others were striving to adopt maximum security measures. An official of the Schools Department requesting anonymity said realizing concerns of private schools falling in Category A, the condition of walkthrough gates had been withdrawn and these schools had been asked to ensure “entry-exist control”. He said the ban on school vans imposed by the Home Department had also been withdrawn.
Meanwhile, various universities, including the Punjab University (PU), Government College University (GCU) and University of Engineering & Technology (UET) etc, also reopened on Monday.
Concerned parents told The News that the UET had failed to take adequate security measures. UET Deputy Registrar (Public Relations) Muhammad Irfan, however, claimed that strict measures were taken and no students or visitor was allowed to enter varsity premise without identification.
A number of missionary schools, including St Anthony’s High School would reopen on Tuesday (today) as security barriers could not be installed until Monday afternoon. It is also learnt that Sacred Heart Cathedral School would reopen after a couple of days as it was yet to install barb wires.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
