Government policies towards private sector of educational system of The Punjab

Dear Sirs,

We, parents of children attending private schools of Lahore, would like to express our concern regarding Government of The Punjab School Education Department’s decisions regulating the work of educational institutions run by private parties. By corresponding letters No. SO (A-1) 1-31/2008 dated 31.05.2010, No. SO (A-1) 1-31/2008 dated 21.08.2010, N 9337/AD (Acad) dated 22.08.2010 School Education Department and City District Government Lahore ordered the schools to remain closed till 09.09.2010 due to unprecedented floods and schools’ premises being used as flood relief camps.
We fully understand and share Government’s preoccupation with the devastating disaster that has struck our country.However, in our opinion the difficult ordeals Pakistan is going through including bomb blasts, flood, energy crisis, food shortage, outburst of diseases, inflation, corruption, overwhelming poverty of the majority of population should not stop us from educating our children, going to offices and thereby doing our best to help the country overcome the crisis. Future of Pakistan lies on the shoulders of highly educated, intelligent, honest and responsible citizens that we, as parents, are trying to bring up.
We would like to draw your attention that city of Lahore was not affected by above mentioned floods and private schools’ premises are not being used as flood relief camps. We also take a liberty to bring to your kind attention the fact that private schools have independent energy sources in their possession, i.e. electrical power generators, so the schools can run in a normal regime.
The children of Pakistan who can make a difference for our country are missing out academically in the competitive environment of the world.
There are also many working mothers among the parents who have to compromise their jobs because the children are forced to stay at home, that has negative effect on the family budgets, employers’ performance as well as the credibility of woman as an employee in general.
The parents are being charged full school fees for all the time children are missing studies.

As the result of the previous Government decision regarding the increasing of security measures of schools in consequence of bomb blasts, the perimeter walls of the private schools were raised, gunmen were hired, sand bags put, security check of children school bags was implemented and other measures were introduced. Such costly measures affect parents’ budget in a form of increase of school bills significantly. Despite of all the security upgrades our children were still missing the studies following Government circular letters and families were paying full fees.
As parents we believe our primary concern is life and well-being of our children. Together with the schools administration we can determine the scope of necessary security measures taking into consideration the location of the school, security services provided by the housing authorities, other important factors and work out the most effective way of protecting our children at a reasonable cost.
To reiterate, the Government decision caused following negative effects: the children are missing academic hours needlessly, the parents can not perform their duties at the jobs in full because of unnecessary distraction, the family budgets are suffering. No one is benefiting from this situation, especially flood victims.
We do not believe in panic and chaos, the society members should perform their duties and create value without unnecessary interruptions from state authorities and help our beloved country to overcome the difficult times. Right now each earning citizen of Pakistan has to provide for millions of deprived compatriots.
We ask the Government School Education Department and its respective administrative bodies to review their policies regarding the holidays and the security measures of private schools, involve schools administrations and students’ parents into decision making process. We hope, the coming school year will be fruitful and marked by better understanding and collaboration.

Annex: ______ pages of parents’ signatures, total ______ signatures.

Best regards and Eid mubarak,

Yours sincerely,