PESHAWAR: The owners of private educational institutions on Tuesday rejected the government’s decision about opening of schools on September 15 and announced that they would start classes from August 15.

Speaking at a joint press conference at Peshawar Press Club, Private Educational Network (PEN) provincial vice president Fazalullah Daudzai and Wafaqul Madaris Al-Arabia Pakistan provincial chief Maunala Hussain Ahmad said that government opened different sectors after controlling Covid-19 pandemic but educational institutions were still closed.

They said that prolonged closure of the religious seminaries, schools and colleges badly affected students and the owners decided to open the institutions under tight safety measures to save loss of educational session.

Mr Daudzai said that delegations of PEN held many meetings with relevant officials and ministers to seek approval for opening of the schools but they did not keep their words despite repeated assurances.

“The government has formed a three-member committee of provincial ministers to submit recommendations for opening of the institutions but the body is yet to present its report in this regards,” he said. He added that lockdown badly affected the students and teachers alike as owners were unable to pay salaries to the staff.

Mr Daudzai said that the owners were unable to pay the rent of school buildings and utility bills in the prevailing situation but government did not announce any relief package for them.

“The owners of these institutions and religious seminaries are ready to extend full cooperation to government for containing coronavirus and it is time to open the institutions,” he said.

Maulana Hussain Ahmad said that date would be fixed very soon for opening of the seminaries in the province. He said that examinations were held under the aegis of the organisation with strict safety measures.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2020