Private schools association to challenge extension of summer holidays in Punjab

Backed by parents, the All Pakistan Private Schools and Management Association (APPSMA) announced on Wednesday its intention to challenge in the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) the Punjab government’s decision to keep public and private schools closed until August 31. Parents have condemned the provincial Education Department’s move to permit only Classes 9 and 10 to reopen, describing it as inadequate and expressing regret that other classes remain excluded. They said that repeated and unannounced closures have placed their children’s futures at risk. The decision to extend summer holidays until August 31, they added, would be contested in court. In their writ petition, the petitioners contend that the extension is unjustified. They note that in other provinces, as well as in all educational institutions under the federal government, academic activities are continuing. In Rawalpindi, federal government schools remain open, while those under the Punjab administration are closed — a situation they argue amounts to discrimination against Punjab’s educational institutions and is not permitted under the law. They further submit that the Punjab government’s notification extending the summer break cites no valid reason. Under Section 12 of the Punjab Private Educational Institutions Act, the authority may declare holidays only in cases of emergencies such as earthquakes, floods, or other natural disasters. The petition also maintains that education is a fundamental right of children, which cannot be denied under any circumstances. The court has been asked to suspend the Punjab government’s notification extending the summer break to allow the immediate resumption of teaching activities in schools.

from Punjab News Updates and Insights - The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/JM5X2eI