Parents fear PTI’ lockdown plan to put students’ future in jeopardy

ISLAMABAD, Oct 25 (APP): Parents are fearing that Pakistan
Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)’ plan to lockdown federal capital for indefinite period would put the academic future of the students in jeopardy who were preparing for their mid-term examinations.
Besides derailing democracy, destabilizing economy, disrupting the daily routine of a common man, the parents say, this shutdown plan announced by PTI like, previous such activities, would cause hardships to the masses and result in nothingness.
Talking to APP, Chairman Private Schools Network (PSN), Dr Afzal Babar said the months of October and November were most crucial for the students in terms of their exams and admission process.
He said, students of all the 750 private schools (registered
with PSN) were preparing themselves to appear in mid term examinations which would start from end of October and continue till mid of November.
Similarly, he said, November 10 was the last date for sending admission of the students of Class IX and X to the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) for exams.
The process of assessing the students is being carried out in all the schools to decide about sending admissions of the students who are capable of sitting in board exams.
“It is the month of November when admissions of the private students of Class V, VIII, IX and X are sent to the FBISE”, he informed.
About closure of schools, he said, if uncertainty prevails on capital’ roads, the students would not be able to reach schools and ultimately, the school authorities would have to announce closure of the schools till normalcy.
Sameena Shahid, a parent said the disruption of examination schedule will unsettle the students who studied hard for more than half of the academic year and were now preparing for the mid-term exams.
The closure of different routes will create problems for the students especially for the girls who travel daily from far flung areas to reach their schools, she said.
“When all of a sudden, students come to know that a paper has been cancelled or delayed, they lose their concentration due to disturbance in routine and schedule. Isn’t it a psychological trauma for the students,” Professor Imtiaz, a lecturer said.
Whatever conflicts the political leaders are having, they must resolve it so that students may not suffer. They must hold peaceful protest and avoid any kind of aggression which can cast a adverse impact on the future of students, he said.
When contacted, Director General, Federal Directorate of Education, Shahnaz A. Riaz said, ‘the meeting of the officials of FDE will be called shortly to decide about announcing the holidays in wake of the upcoming PTI’ plan to shutdown capital.
She said the decision about the holidays would be taken after seeking the opinion of all the senior officials.