Owners, Teachers Of Schools Protest Against Closure Of Private Academic Institutions In Rawalpindi

:The Joint Action Committee (JAC), Private Schools Associations along with other private school organizations Tuesday held a 'protest march' here against the closure of academic institutions in the Cantonment areas and raised slogans against the administration for its 'wrong decision'.

RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Mar, 2018 ) :The Joint Action Committee (JAC), Private Schools Associations along with other private school organizations Tuesday held a 'protest march' here against the closure of academic institutions in the Cantonment areas and raised slogans against the administration for its 'wrong decision'.

Raising slogans, the protesters expressed concern over the decision and lease cancellation. They said that it would jeopardize the future of more than 350,000 students, who were getting education in more than 900 private schools in Cantt areas.

A large number of teachers and owners of different private schools, carrying banners and placards, marched from the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board office to Mall Road, MH Chowk. Traffic remained blocked for an hour due to the protest.

The rally was led by Convener JAC Nisar Mahmood, Committee members, Ibrar Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Usman, Nadeem Sheraz Khan, Ch. Tayyab, Naseem Malik, Azhar Mahmood, Tariq Rehman, Ch. Amjad Zaib, Irfan Mazafar Kiani, Ashraf Hiraj, Raja Naseer Ahmed Janjua, Muhammad Ibrahim, and Muhammad Shahbaz.

The protesters raised slogans, including 'Open the Schools', 'Don't Play with the Future of Children' and 'Spread Education,' on the occasion. After the 'march,' JAC members held meeting with RCB administration including Cantonment Executive Officer, Arslan Haider, Vice President RCB, Malik Munir, Secretary RCB, Qaiser Mahmood and others.

They informed the administration that the future of more than 350,000 students, studying in 900 private institutions was at stake as the Cantonment board administration of Rawalpindi and Chaklala had issued notices to the owners of all the schools being run in Cantt areas to close down their institutions immediately.

The reason cited for the action is said that these schools are causing security and traffic problems as they are situated in residential areas, they said adding that the security and traffic problems are a national dilemma and the presence of schools in residential areas is no problem, so there is no need to close them down.

Earlier, the JAC members addressing the rally said that not only the students but more than 20,000 teachers and other staff members working in educational institutions would be affected with the closure of schools.

They urged the cantonment administration to revisit the policy and cancel notices issued to school administrations in future. The cantonment administration should think about the future of students studying in private schools, they added.

When contacted, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) Chief Executive Officer Arslan Haider told APP that they were taking action against private schools in accordance with the directive of the Supreme Court.

They are taking action on public complaints that schools in residential areas were creating problems for them, he added. The parents also urged the administration to resolve the issue at the earliest in the best interest of students, otherwise the future of their children could be damaged in this situation.