Educational institutions to stay open as KU, Fuuast postpone exams

Published May 14, 2015
Khuhro said that educational institutions would remain open so that a strong message was sent .—APP/File
Khuhro said that educational institutions would remain open so that a strong message was sent .—APP/File

KARACHI: Examination papers scheduled at colleges and universities for Thursday have been postponed due to the Safoora bus tragedy, though these institutions, along with schools, have been directed by the education minister to remain open.

The universities which have postponed their papers included Karachi University and the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology.

Also read: Security huddle decides to extend Karachi operation to include militant abettors

In a statement, Education Minister Nisar Khuhro condemned the massacre of innocent people in the bus attack and said that educational institutions would remain open on Thursday so that a strong message was sent to the anti-Pakistan forces that the nation was united and ready to fight the war against terrorism.

Teachers representing various educational institutions, however, criticised the minister’s statement and said that though not a single teacher association had challenged the minister, it was expected that attendance at all educational institutions would be thin on Thursday and it would have been better if no government order was issued in this regard.

“The minister needed to understand that nobody wants to interrupt educational activities and go on a holiday. In fact, it’s the dangerous law and order situation prevailing in the city that forces parents not to send their children to schools,” said Sharaf-uz-Zaman, heading the Private Schools Management Association.

About 80pc teachers serving at schools, he said, were women, and many didn’t have their own transport to come for work.

“If colleges and universities are cancelling their papers, traders are closing their businesses and transport is expected to be thin, it’s anybody’s guess how many teachers and children would be able come to their institutions,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ateeq Mir of the Karachi Tajir Ittehad representing about 400 markets in the city said shops would be kept closed to mourn the huge loss of life in the Safoora massacre.

“We have asked traders to fly black flags atop their shops as a mark of mourning today,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2015

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

Opinion

Editorial

Border clashes
19 May, 2024

Border clashes

THE Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has witnessed another series of flare-ups, this time in the Kurram tribal district...
Penalising the dutiful
19 May, 2024

Penalising the dutiful

DOES the government feel no remorse in burdening honest citizens with the cost of its own ineptitude? With the ...
Students in Kyrgyzstan
Updated 19 May, 2024

Students in Kyrgyzstan

The govt ought to take a direct approach comprising convincing communication with the students and Kyrgyz authorities.
Ominous demands
Updated 18 May, 2024

Ominous demands

The federal government needs to boost its revenues to reduce future borrowing and pay back its existing debt.
Property leaks
18 May, 2024

Property leaks

THE leaked Dubai property data reported on by media organisations around the world earlier this week seems to have...
Heat warnings
18 May, 2024

Heat warnings

STARTING next week, the country must brace for brutal heatwaves. The NDMA warns of severe conditions with...