PESHAWAR, Nov 11: The Parents Action Committee has opposed the decision of the Town-III administration to close down private schools situated in the residential area of Hayatabad township and shift them to some other places by April 2004.

Speaking at a news conference here on Tuesday, Arif Shakil and Rahim Shah Khattak, chairman and deputy chairman of the Parents Action Committee, respectively, said these schools could be shifted to other places provided they were provided alternate pla-ces.

“Action has been taken against smaller schools only, while those where the offsprings of the rich and affluent class read, have been spared,” they claimed.

The office-bearers said private schools had been operating in Hayatabad township since 1984, and at present over 3,000 students had been enrolled these institutions.

The decision of the Town-III administration had put the future of the students at stake, they said, adding that water supply to these institutions had been disconnected which had caused a great deal of trouble for the students.

The office-bearers said the Town-III administration had forcibly retrieved the signatures of school-owners on a stamp paper, wherein they had given an undertaking to theadministration that they would vacate the premises by March 2004.

They said they would oppose the move till arrangements were made to house these schools at some other places.

The office-bearers said on the one hand, the government had adopted the slogan of education for all, while on the other, it was snatching the right of education from the poor students.

They asked the provincial government to unseal these schools and restore the water supply so the students could continue their studies.