TOBA TEK SINGH: A pre-partition school in a village of Gojra fails to get the status of secondary school despite efforts by the residents and those who remained associated with it.

Established in 1930, the Government Girls Primary School has imparted education to generations of Pakistanis. At present, there are more than 500 students on its rolls.

Chaudhry Muhammad Rafiq, a 90-year-old resident of Chak 279-JB, Darapur, told this correspondent that the village was founded under a scheme introduced by the British rulers according to which each family coming from Indian district of Hoshiarpur would be given 25-acre farmland and a piece of land for house.

He said his forefathers were among those (35 Muslim and 16 Hindu families) who had migrated here. He recalled that no girl could get even primary education during 32 years from 1898 to 1930 and on the demand of village people a primary school was set up in 1930 which got the status of a middle school in 1957. He said many people who remained associated with the school from time to time endeavoured to attain the high school status for it but they could not have their dream materialised.

Muzaffarul Ahsan, a retired army major belonging to the village, recalled that in each general election local candidates promised to ensure high school status for the institution but they went back on their word.

Mian Shariq Mashood told this correspondent that the boundary wall and building of the school fell into a state of disrepair two decades ago but the government turned a blind eye to it and some people contributed money to keep it functional.

Hundreds of students of nearby Chaks 280-JB, Duggal Kotli, 277-JB, Nangal, Buddhi Pind, Bajwara, 337-JB and 90-JB Kairowal, who passed middle classes from this school, could not continue studies and now they have to travel to Faisalabad or Gojra for higher studies.

Speaking to Dawn, headmistress Mumtaz Begum claims that more than 500 girls are studying in the school.

District Officer Planning Shahid Rehman says the feasibility report for upgradation of the school has been sent to the provincial government with a demand of Rs10 million. He expects that the money will be made available in the next budget after which the school may be upgraded.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2017