KARACHI: The Private Schools Action Committee has refused to accept the government’s to conduct examinations of only optional subjects, and demanded to reopen educational institutes for all grades.
More than 15 school associations under the Private School Action Committee held a meeting at Pak Askari College in which several school associations participated including Karachi Private Schools Association, Private Schools Management Association, SITE Association Karachi, Alliance of Private Schools Association, and Manghopir Private Schools Association.
The participants refused to accept the decision to conduct examinations of optional subjects for Class 9 and 10. They demanded to open schools for first to eighth class and conduct examinations for all grades. They announced that examination centers will not be allowed in private educational institutions unless the examinations Grade 1 till 8 are also held.
The school owners and principals also expressed grave concern, calling the decision to conduct exams of optional subjects ridiculous. They said that compulsory subjects should be examined instead of optional subjects.
They expressed displeasure over any decision taken without the input of all stakeholders. They demanded that the Sindh government should immediately allow the opening of schools for all classes and holding examinations.
The principals and school owners warned that if their demands were not met, then private educational institutions would launch a non-cooperation campaign during Class 9 and 19 examinations and would not provide their school premises and staff.
They said the government has already reduced the syllabus and all subjects should be examined. They said they only subjects cannot be accepted as students perform better in compulsory subjects and could impact their results.
Speaking to MM News, Chairman Pakistan Private Schools Association, Pervez Haroon, said they will not accept the government’s decision under any circumstances as the future of students is being affected.
“Those who make such decisions are ignorant of education themselves,” he said. “They decided to take exams of optional subjects of Matric and Inter Board since they received crores of rupees from students, so it was decided to take ridiculous exams,” he alleged.
Representatives of Private Schools Honours Association, Private Educational Services Association, Shah Latif Private Schools Association, Hawks Bay Private Schools Association, Thatta and Sujawal Private Schools Association, and Sukkur Association also attended the meeting.
