OKARA: The roofs of three rooms and a portion of the veranda at the Government Elementary School of the 5/4L collapsed just days before Eidul Azha.

The school, located in a village adjacent to the south side of the city, caters to 900 students, according to Headmaster Muhammad Attique Khari.

The affected area consists of three rooms and a veranda used by the middle section students, totaling 300 in number.

The collapse occurred during the ongoing summer vacation. The roof of the school’s computer lab is also in a dangerous condition, raising concerns about potential damage to the computers and their accessories.

The headmaster said the roofs of the middle section classrooms had exceeded their lifespan. Over the past two years, several requests were made to the district education authority (DEA) to address the deteriorating condition, but no response or action was taken.

Despite continuous communication with the DEA and representatives from the Monitoring Evaluation Authority during their monthly visits, the school administration’s efforts to highlight the dilapidated state of the middle section building were in vain. The school has maintained a complete record of correspondence.

Mr Khari expressed relief that the roof collapse occurred during the summer vacation. However, it has been decided that after the vacation, classes for the middle section will be conducted in the school ground to avoid any untoward incident.

The school administration has urged Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi to address the school building’s condition for the safety and well-being of the students.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2023