buildings it’s not difficult to assume that the situation vis-à-vis playground facilities in private schools is far poor than the public schools.
As the Punjab government is now establishing new schools only under public-private partnership through the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) one wonders as to how the government would ensure that such schools have playground facilities as most of these have been opened in rented buildings.
According to the district-wise break-up, district Sheikhupura has the lowest percentage (46%) of public schools having playgrounds, followed by the provincial metropolis Lahore (49%) and Gujrat (52%).
The district Hafizabad has the highest percentage (89%) of public schools with playground facility, followed by Khanewal and Chiniot 82% each. In district Khushab, the hometown of incumbent Secretary School Education Department Punjab Abdul Jabbar Shaheen, the playgrounds are available in 63 percent schools.
Similarly the percentage of playgrounds for students in public schools from South Punjab includes Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahimyar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Layyah, Rajanpur, Multan, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Lodhran, Pakpattan and Vehari.
According to the district-wise break, 60 percent public high and higher secondary schools of Attock have playgrounds, Bahawalnagar (63%), Bahawalpur (77%), Bhakkar (75%), Chakwal (65%), Chiniot (82%), Dera Ghazi Khan (62%), Faisalabad (64%), Gujranwala (57%), Gujrat (52%), Hafizabad (89%), Jhelum (64%), Jhang (73%), Kasur (77%), Khanewal (82%), Khushab (63%), Lahore (49%), Layyah (62%), Lodhran (64%), Mandi Bahauddin (69%), Mianwali (77%), Multan (69%), Muzaffargarh (76%), Nankana Sahib (53%), Narowal (54%), Okara (65%), Pakpattan (67%), Rahimyar Khan (72%), Rajanpur (65%), Rawalpindi (55%), Sahiwal (75%), Sargodha (69%), Sheikhupura (46%), Sialkot (53%), Toba Tek Singh (72%) and Vehari (75%).
Talking about the lack of sports facilities for students in public schools, Secretary General Punjab Olympic Association Idris Haider Khawaja said over the years the government had ignored sports at school level despite the fact sports were equally important. “While education is necessary for mental growth, sports are important for physical growth”, he added.
Idris Haider Khawaja said the government spent huge funds on frivolous activities like Youth Festivals while school level sports were being ignored. He was also critical of sports ministry saying it was basically Olympic Association’s job to conduct sports activities in schools. “The ministry’s job is limited to policy making and allocation of funds etc”, he added.
The News could not reach Punjab Minister for Education and Sports Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan despite repeated attempts on his cell phone.