THE tragic collapse of a private school roof in Dera Ghazi Khan, which claimed the lives of four innocent children and injured 19 others, including teachers, has once again exposed the dangerous condition of educational infrastructure in Pakistan. I personally witnessed the heart-breaking scene outside the school, where parents were crying and desperately looking around for their children.

What should have been a safe place for learning turned into a scene of fear, death and chaos. The incident is not merely an accident; it reflects administrative negli-gence, poor monitoring systems, and the failure of the relevant authorities.

Initial reports suggest that the building was old and structurally weak, raising serious questions about how such a school was allowed to continue functioning. The responsibility for this tragedy cannot be attributed solely to fate. Several institutions are responsible for inspecting and regulating school buildings in Punjab. What were they doing if the building was unsafe?

Government schools are often criticised for lacking proper buildings, infrastructure and facilities, compelling many parents to opt for private schools. In such circum-stances, private schools, which charge significantly higher fee under various heads, are morally and legally obligated to provide safe, clean and well-maintained infrastructure.

Unfortunately, private schools continue to operate without proper inspections. Safety certificates are often treated as mere paperwork rather than meaningful safeguards for students and teachers. This culture of negligence has turned education into a business where profit is sometimes valued more than human life.

The tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for both the government and society. Children deserve schools, whether government-run or private, that are safe, secure and properly monitored.

Unless strict accountability and regular inspections are ensured, such incidents may continue to occur, turning classrooms into places of danger instead of hope.

Malik Muhammad Shahwaiz
Dera Ghazi Khan

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2026