DHA schools closed for security reasons

[LahoreEstate]

Wednesday, June 03, 2009
By Khalid Khattak

LAHORE

Schools running under the administrative control of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) announced unexpected summer holidays on Tuesday due to security reasons, causing serious inconvenience to the students and their parents.

Similarly, the Lahore School of Economics (LSE) on Tuesday abruptly announced varsity’s closure for four days owing to the growing security concerns. The sudden decision spread scare and panic among public, in general, and students and their parents, in particular.

It is learnt that the LSE management has decided to introduce some special security measures owing to which the varsity has been closed and would reopen on June 8.

According to sources, the DHA had earlier planned summer vacation starting from June 15, however, the Monday’s incident in the North Waziristan Agency where some students and teachers of the Cadet College Razmak were abducted by Taliban militants, compelled the management to reschedule the annual holidays.

The sources added the decision by the DHA authorities was taken late Monday evening which could not be properly conveyed to the students and parents.

Talking to The News parents of a number of students said they went to the school on Tuesday morning as routine but found that schools were closed and large notices were pasted on the main gates, telling them that the schools would reopen after the summer holidays in August.

“I was really surprised to read the notice”, said the father of a student who had gone to drop his son at the school. Seeking anonymity, he further said the abrupt decision had caused great trouble to the parents as they were earlier informed that summer holidays would start from June 15.

A senior official of the School Education Department, talking to The News, said it was generally observed that private sector schools did not follow summer vacation schedule announced by the department. He said the department had announced summer holidays from June 1 to August 14 this year which was not being followed by most of the private schools.

However, DHA spokesman Tajamul Hussain Anjum, when contacted, claimed that information about summer vacation was even written on copies of the students. He also claimed that DHA schools were closed on 1st June as per announcement of the government.

DHA Director Education Col ® K S Babar said DHA schools observed summer vacation as announced by the Punjab government from June 1 to August 14.

He admitted that earlier the summer holidays were scheduled to start from June 15, however, owing to pressing demands of parents in the wake of increasing heat and prevailing security concerns, the schedule was revised. He also claimed that no one had to face any problem as parents and students were informed well in time.

When contacted LSE office, one Aslam who introduced himself from administration department, said the varsity was closed owing to the prevailing security concerns. He said the LSE would reopen on Monday.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=180999