RAWALPINDI, July 11: At least 40 schools in Rawalpindi city have been denationalised, sources told Dawn here on Thursday.

A summary to this effect was approved by the Punjab governor and the authorities concerned issued the notification, the sources said. All these schools were nationalised in 1972.

Out of the total number, which include 11 girls schools, four are higher secondary schools, 13 high, four middle and 19 are primary schools. As almost all the private owners of these schools had died, therefore, now these will be handed over to their heirs.

According to the conditions set for the denationalisation, the private owners will not increase admission and other fees of the students, who are presently studying in these schools.

On the other hand, the teachers, who have completed more than ten years of services, are likely to be sent on forced retirement with pension.

Meanwhile, the teachers and students of these schools have pledged to resist the decision.

Condemning this move, the union leaders have called for the withdrawal of the decision. They warned the government of holding protest demonstrations.

Meanwhile, more than 200 lecturers gathered here at Government Viqarun Nisa College for Women in protest against the denationalisation of educational institutions. They vowed that they won’t allow the government to implement such a decision.

The lecturers’ union leaders also held an emergency meeting to devise strategy as how to counter the move.

Speaking on the occasion, president of Punjab Professors and Lecturers Association, Muhammad Ilyas Qureshi, pledged that they would take every step to compel the government to withdraw the decision. “In 1996, the then government had also tried to privatize some educational institutions but could not do so after the teachers and students had launched a movement against the decision,” he said.

He accused the government of blocking the doors of education for the poor. He said all such moves would be foiled.