25 schoolchildren faint in ICT school due to intense heat

Islamabad: Amid severe heat wave coupled with power outages, parents have demanded of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) to reduce school timings by two hours after certain relaxations given by the government in promotion of students to next grades.

At present, the schools under the FDE are open for six days and are observing regular timings from 8 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. Parents feel that there is no reason for students to spend over five hours in schools particularly after the government allowed board examinations only in elective subjects. Moreover, the students from grade 1 to 4, 6 and 7 have also been promoted to next grades.

At least 25 children were rushed to a hospital after they fainted due to the sweltering heat on Wednesday. Students of a school in Islamabad's Bara Kahu locality suffered immensely due to the sweltering heat and loadshedding.

According to the TV report, the children experienced nose bleeding due to the intense heat, after which their teachers, alarmed, poured water over their heads. The school children were then taken to a nearby health facility for first aid. After the alarming incident, 200 schoolchildren were allowed to go home from the Federal Government School due to absence of power.