ISLAMABAD: The seriousness of the Punjab government towards education could be gauged from the fact that more than 25 percent government primary and elementary schools in Rawalpindi city are in small rented buildings.
Classrooms in most of the schools are congested and without adequate ventilation.
These schools lack proper playgrounds and education-friendly environment as most of them have been built on four to six marla land.
According to officials documents, there are 76 boys and girls primary and elementary schools in Rawalpindi city.
Of them, 20 are being run in small buildings on a rent ranging between Rs6,000 and Rs12,000.
Interestingly, the rent of four of the schools is paid by teachers and parents on self-help basis.
Sources in education department said every year each school was released development budget of Rs50,000. However, the amount is too meagre to pay the rent of a building.
Deputy District Education Officer (female), Noreen Khalid, who is supposed to run the affairs of girls’ schools, said, “I agreed that most of the schools in rented buildings are very small and lack proper ventilation. However, now we are trying to merge the schools with nearest government schools.”
Replying to question, she said that development budget could not be utilised for the upgradation and extension of rooms in rented buildings.
Deputy Director Malik Sarfraz admitted that some rented schools were not conducive to education.
INTERNEWS
