THE insufficiency of public-sector schools, coupled with the plummeting standards of the latter, has resulted in the mushroom growth of private schools. Given that the country’s population is heavily skewed towards the young, and the fact that there is growing awareness amongst all sections of the population of the importance of education, the running of schools has turned out to be very good business — often, a ruthless one that will mow down impediments wherever possible. Consider, for example, that while in all cities there exist zoning laws and regulations delineating areas reserved for commercial activities from those meant for residential or amenity purposes, private schools (amongst other commercial facilities) spring up everywhere to cater to the needs of the population, with no thought for the rules. This phenomenon is especially a scourge in residential areas, where the more or less parallel school timings mean that streets become choked and residents are thoroughly inconvenienced, all because private schools aren’t bothered or don’t have the resources to purchase or lease proper premises in the mandated areas.

It is against this backdrop, then, that Islamabad’s Capital Development Authority’s action on Friday to seal 12 private schools operating in residential areas must be appreciated. This is a drop in the ocean; there are about 360 schools that operate in residential areas in the capital, but a start has been made. It is true that in the short term, students will be affected. Yet this must be contrasted with the reality that such hole-in-the-wall institutions overwhelmingly lack the space for adequately sized classrooms and necessary facilities such as libraries and playgrounds. In the long term, city authorities must work on upgrading city planning practices so that while educational institutions are kept out of places where they have no business to operate, the sectors earmarked for them are not too far from residential areas, or so densely packed that access becomes a problem. As in all other facets of city planning, research and measured thinking are vital.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2018