KHAR: The teachers and students of several government high schools staged a protest demonstration on Khar-Peshawar highway against the alleged misbehaviour of Bajaur Sports Complex officials with some teachers during a match of inter-school annual sports festival, which started on Saturday.

They also blocked the highway to traffic for several hours. They alleged that the teachers were sitting at the sports complex to watch and monitor the match being played between students of two schools when some officials of the sports complex asked them to leave the place as it was only for senior officials.

They protesters alleged the sports officials also used derogatory language against the teachers. They said that the sports complex officials had failed to fulfil their commitment to give due respect to the teachers.

Inter-school sports gala begins

They claimed that there were no sitting facilities for the students and teachers at the complex. They said that the education department had paid funds to the sports complex management for arranging the games and facilitating the student players and their teachers.

They urged the local administration to launch an inquiry into the incident.

Earlier, the inter-school annual sports festival was inaugurated by MPA Anwar Zeb Khan in a colorful ceremony held at the Bajaur Sports Complex, Khar. Officials of the education department, students and teachers of various government high schools participated in the ceremony.

District education officer Khaista Rahman and elders were also in attendance.

Speaking at the ceremony, Anwar Zeb said that sports activities were not only vital for healthy life style, but also necessary to keep the students from social evils.

He said that sports activities were the best tool to develop positive thinking among the students.

He praised the education department for arranging the sports festival for the students of high schools and said that such activities were also the best source of developing friendly relations.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2019