KARACHI, March 22: The residents of Chanesar Goth have opposed the handing over of a building housing nine government girls/boys higher secondary schools in Union Council No 4, Jamshed Town.

The residents of Chanesar Goth said the schools in the building had been given under the administrative control of a private concern. They warned that the parents and residents would oppose this action and take to the streets in protest. They said that they had formed an organisation ‘School Bachao Action Committee’ (SBAC) to mobilise the people and stop its adoption.

Office bearers of the committee said a woman had taken charge of the school. They said she visited the school and threatened the school teachers she would replace them and admit students on the basis of test and interview.

The committee said there were nine Sindhi medium schools in one campus, four operating in the morning and five in the evening shift. There were 2,500 students enrolled in these schools.

The SBAC officials said the majority of the local people belonged to the low income group and could not afford the fees levied by private institutions, saying these schools were the only option for their children to acquire an education. If it is handed over to a private concern we will have no choice except stop their children’s schooling, they added.

The action committee members said that they and other residents of the locality had met the authorities and apprised them of their reservations. They said the education department officials said they had not been taken into confidence about the matter and to the best of their knowledge there was no written agreement about the schools being handed over to a private concern.

The action committee told the education department officials a woman had visited the school with armed guards and talked in an arrogant and rude manner with the school staff and residents. The committee made inquiries and learnt another school in Chanesar Village was given to this person. The number of students in this school had decreased from 248 to 148.

The action committee warned if these nine schools were handed over against their will the authorities would responsible for any law and order situation.

The UC-4 Nazim when contacted said a woman had adopted a school, but people of the area were complaining against her policies and behaviour. He said even though he was the nazim of the area, he was not taken into confidence about the matter and all he could say was the woman wielded influence in the highest quarters.—Ali Hazrat Bacha