Trust allowed school control

LAHORE
THE Punjab government has allowed Ghazi Education & Welfare Trust to continue controlling Government Islamia High School, Bhati Gate with the assurance to provide necessary security in the wake of Peshawar school attack.
The issue regarding the school had surfaced Thursday following police baton charge on demonstrators, comprising students and their parents, demanding reopening of the school. After the December 16 school attack, the Trust had asked the School Education Department to take control of the school in the wake of emerging security situation. Meanwhile, the school remained closed for few days which created unrest among the students and their parents.
Secretary of School Education Department and other officials visited the school Friday and held a meeting with the Trust owner after which it was decided that the school would continue operating under the Trust.
On Thursday, dozens of locals, including schoolchildren had gathered outside the school and held a demonstration demanding reopening of the school and security arrangements at the earliest. However, the situation got worst when the Lahore police launched indiscriminate action against the demonstrators, as a result of which, a student also got injured.
The police denied baton charge but it was obvious that the student got hurt during the police action which invited strong criticism from civil society and order of inquiry and strict action by the chief minister.
Talking to media on Friday, Punjab Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan claimed that no student was baton charged by the police. CCPO Lahore claimed that father of the student had himself confessed that the child received minor injury on ear during stampede as a result of clash between protesters and the police. Government Islamia High School, Bhati Gate was adopted by Ghazi Education & Welfare Trust in 2003 and ever since it’s administrative control was with the Trust, including its own teachers and head. Trust’s coordinator Rizwan Razi said the Trust had requested the government to take control of the school in the wake of emerging security situation, adding, however now the government had assured to provide security, so the school would run under the Trust as usual. He said free-of-cost quality education was being provided to the students owing to which the locals also wanted that the school should continue working under the Trust. According to EDO Education Lahore Muhammad Pervaiz Akhtar, the school was adopted by the Trust in 2003 for a period of 20 years. He said academic activities had resumed at the school on Friday, adding that the government would ensure security arrangements at the school.
Lecture: Punjab University’s Centre for Clinical Psychology (CCP) in collaboration with Pakistan Association of Clinical Psychologists (PACP) organised a special lecture on ‘Trauma and Trauma Recovery’ on Friday.
Dr Steve Kidd, Clinical Psychological from Colorado Spring, USA was the resource person. The lecture provided theoretical and empirical based discussions and practical demonstrations of few techniques that can be helpful while working with trauma-ridden community.
Director CCP Dr Rukhsana Kausar, President PACP Dr Nashi Khan, trainee’s clinical psychologists, faculty members and students were also present.