LAYYAH: The backward district of south Punjab has 112 public schools without boundary walls while hundred of private schools also lack security arrangements, according to the data shared by Education Assistant Director (admin) Rasheed Khan.

In the backdrop of Peshawar school attack on Dec 16 last year, the government ordered the closure of schools across the country from Dec 19 to Jan 12 so that schools could get time to improve security measures.

Though the Layyah district administration has spent the funds meant for schools furniture on the installation of surveillance cameras, millions are needed to provide walls and security gadgets to all schools.

There are 1,673 schools in Layyah, which include five higher secondary schools, 146 high schools, 249 elementary schools and 1,273 primary schools.

According to figures of the education department, 112 schools are functioning without boundary walls.

Up to 1,394 schools have boundary walls just five feet high while the newly released standard operating procedure (SOP), the wall must be eight feet high.

The education department administration has started raising the boundary wall of 167 schools.

The education department released Rs20.32 million from non-salary budget to raise the boundary walls of 68 schools having more than 500 students. The district government also ordered to buy surveillance cameras from the funds meant for furniture and the promotion of education.

Dawn learned from officials there are 280 registered private schools in the district, of them eight are higher secondary, 81 high and 191 middle schools while there are 200 non-registered private school.

Officials say the 20 colleges functioning in the district have better security arrangements.

Nursing and paramedical schools also failed to meet security standards set the by government and therefore remained closed on Monday.

Medical Superintendent Dr Khalid Mahmood and District Health Officer Ziaul Hasan said they had no funds to improve security measures.

Executive District Officer of education Hidayatullah Shah admitted that 112 primary schools were without boundary walls and these schools were located in rural areas.

“We’ve sought funds for these schools from the government,” he said.

Prominent educationist Prof Nawaz Siddiqui suggested a uniformed security SOP for all schools, questioning the categories of schools.

He said a school with 50 students and a school with 500 plus students should have the same level of security.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play