Back to school?

The strange decision by the Sindh government to extend the summer holidays for schools in Karachi by 10 days is stirring up a storm. The Sindh education minister Fazlullah Paichuhu explained that the decision was taken due to the prospect of floods and rains in the province. While the decision may make sense for interior Sindh, it does not make sense for Karachi which is facing neither torrential rains nor the fear of a flood. Classes were earlier set to resume on August 3. Now, schools will recommence on August 11. However, the decision has been steadfastly opposed by all private school associations in Karachi, which have promised to stick to August 3 as the date to open their schools. The Sindh government has retaliated with the threat that the schools’ registration would be cancelled if they failed to comply with the order. Surely, there is a solution to be found here without making the issue a matter of ego. If there are good reasons for extending vacations in Karachi-based schools, the Sindh government should provide them. If there are none, then private school associations should be allowed to make their case and open schools earlier without making the matter controversial.
The private school associations have argued that the unnecessary delay would make the completion of coursework difficult for students. With schools in Karachi being forced to shut many times a year due to the ongoing security situation, the private associations have made a good case for Karachi to be made an exception to the rule in Sindh. Moreover, a number of other districts in Sindh did not face flooding and rains and could be included in the exception. Already, schools are set to close due to the local bodies elections scheduled for September. The Sindh government should admit it took a well-intentioned but rather rushed decision to protect children from the ongoing floods situation. While there is certainly a serious flood situation developing around the country, the decision to close schools in Karachi does not stand up to scrutiny. The government would do well to back off instead of making this into an unnecessary conflict.