PESHAWAR: The Dec 16 terrorist attack on Army Public School and College may have profited those selling barbed wire and other security equipment but students’ education continue to suffer immensely in the provincial metropolis.

Some of the reputed but vulnerable educational institutions having unsatisfactory security arrangements were closed again just one day after resuming classes.

The educational institutions were closed since Dec 16 terrorist attack on APS in which 150 people were killed.

The uncertain and worried students at Edwardes College Peshawar were told to come back after two weeks to college as it local authorities ordered its closure after expressing dissatisfaction with the security arrangements at the college.

“I am worried as we would lag behind in completing our academic courses as college is closed once again,” said Gul Sher, a student of first year at Edwardes College. He said that pre-board examination was going on when the college was suddenly closed on Dec 16 due to the APS tragedy.

Yesterday when he came back to the college, Gul Sher said that he found no extraordinary security arrangements at the college located in the ‘Red Zone’ (Peshawar Cantonment). There were only two security guards, who checked college identity cards of the students. That’s all.

Provincial Minister for Information and Higher Education Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani, who visited Edwardes College on Tuesday, directed its closure due to unsatisfactory security measures at the oldest college of the province.

The visibly annoyed minister directed the school and college administration to strictly observe the code and parameters chalked out by the provincial government for the foolproof security inside and around their educational institution.

Mr Ghani directed principal of the college to close the institute for next 15 days and complete all security arrangements as directed by provincial government.

The minister said that provincial government would not compromise on the security of students.

The minister also visited Edwardes School, Government Higher Secondary School Cantonment and City, Centennial Model High School, Bacha Khan Girls College, Government College for Boys, Convent School Peshawar Cantonment and other educational institutions.

On closure of some educational institutions, Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Zaheerul Islam said that government did not want to discourage the educational institutions but had asked them to keep their institutions closed until they were sure that enough security arrangements were made for providing secure environment to their students.

The provincial government has issued security advisory to educational institutions, asking them to ensure they have fenced high boundary walls, walkthrough metal gates, metal detectors, CCTV cameras installed at educational institutions along with sufficient number of well-armed security guards.

When asked about such security arrangements at government-run schools, the deputy commissioner said that funds would not be a problem ensuring such arrangements but government only needed some time to secure all government-run schools.

Other institutions in the province like Ghulam Ishaq Khan (GIK) Institute were also still closed owing to lack of proper security arrangements since Dec 16.

Hafeezullah, an engineering student of third semester at GIK Institute, said that he was concerned as his studies like other students suffered due to closure of the institute.

The GIK Institute, having hills nearby, was termed vulnerable and closed owing to lack of enough security arrangements by local administration. It would open next month after security arrangements would be made.

Bacha Khan University in Charsadda was also closed after district administration found the security arrangements unsatisfactory.

While education of students continues to suffer owing to closure of their educational institutions once again, the schoolchildren, who saw armed gunmen at their schools after winter break, also seemed shocked.

Published in Dawn January 14th , 2015

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