KARACHI, Aug 16: The Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association observed a protest day on Monday at over 230 colleges all over the province against the denationalization policy of the provincial education department , especially against handing over of St. Pat's and St. Joseph's colleges to the previous owners.

Protest meetings were also held at various colleges in the city, in which the SPLA office-bearers condemned Sindh Education minister's remarks against teachers and demanded her to take back the decision of handing over the St. Pat's and St. Joseph's colleges to the Catholic Education Board.

The SPLA president, Prof Syed Riaz Ahsan, said that at the protest meeting held at the Govt DJ Science College, teachers condemned Sindh education minister's statement in which she had declared that St. Pat's and St. Joseph's colleges were at "verge of collapse," and said her claim was refuted by students of the said college who clinched positions in the intermediate examinations.

During the meeting, teachers vowed to resist denationalization of more educational institutions in the city, and announced to continue their protest against the policy of the education department.

Meanwhile, joint meetings of teachers, students and parents were held at St. Pat's and St. Joseph's colleges, who by adopting resolutions demanded an end to denationalization of educational institutions, especially that of the two colleges.

During the meetings, the participants regretted that while taking the decision on the two colleges, parents, teachers, city and town nazims and other officials were not taken into confidence.

Later, parents, teachers and students held demos outside both the denationalized colleges and chanted slogans against Sindh Education Minister Dr Hameeda Khoro. Meanwhile, Jamat-i-Islami, Karachi, criticized the denationalization policy of Sindh education department and termed it a bid to deny the right to education to the poor segments of the society.

JI Karachi Amir Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui in a statement on Monday opposed denationalization of educational institutions of Karachi and demanded the government to halt the process in the larger interest of education in the province. -PPI