Falling apart

I am writing on behalf of the parents and residents of Mubarak Goth, Karachi to raise serious concerns about the dangerously deteriorating condition of the government secondary school building in our area. Just last month, the roof of one the rooms collapsed just as students were entering the classroom. Thankfully, no one was hurt. But the collapse resulted in the complete destruction of desks, chairs and other classroom furniture. This is not an isolated incident. Only days earlier a large piece of debris had fallen from the roof of another section of the building, once again, narrowly missing students and staff.

The frequent incidents of falling roofs, canopies and debris have created an atmosphere of fear and anxiety among students and teachers alike. Despite several previous complaints and warnings, the education authorities have failed to take any practical steps to ensure the safety of our children. We, the concerned parents and community members, urgently demand a complete structural assessment and immediate repair of all hazardous areas within the school premises. If this situation continues to be ignored, the consequences could be catastrophic.

Sarfraz Haroon

Karachi