MANY public schools in the country are used as cattle farms where cows and buffaloes are nurtured instead of educating children. One can see cattle roaming around, but no students or teachers in the vicinity. The reality is that such ‘schools’ are good for nothing because there are no funds available to run them. This gives the local influential to ‘salvage’ the structure and bring it into some kinf of ‘use’.

Why does the government not release sufficient funds for these schools? If the funds are released, where are they going? Why are these schools forgotten like a bad memory? Why is there no check and balance system in place?

Education is the basic right of every child. According to the Constitution, the government is bound to provide free education to every child and ensure compulsory admission and attendance till the completion of school education. It should also provide infrastructure, including standard building, playgrounds, laboratories, teaching-learning material, and teaching staff for the students. Besides, it should give free education-related material, including expenditure on textbooks, stationery, school bags and uniforms.

However, all these laws are blatantly ignored by provincial governments and the children remain deprived of their right to free and quality education. There are no appropriate buildings for schools, no water or washrooms, no teaching and learning material, and no furniture.

Many schools were built when the towns were small in size, but when the population grew, the government did not bother to repair the schools or increase their number. Hence, the existing schools do not meet the requirement of the growing population. Naturally, parents prefer not to have their children enrolled in public schools. Most of the people are poor and they cannot afford the exorbitant fee of private schools.

They send their children to nearby workshops due to which the ill of child labour is spreading far and wide.

With each passing day, the problem is getting worse. Those responsible for providing quality education send their children to the best of these private schools or even abroad.

As such, they are oblivious to the plight of these innocent, poor children.

The government must realise its responsibility and utilise the funds for the betterment of people’s lives so that the country may progress towards prosperity.

Shujaat Ali Jamali
Dadu

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2023