TAXILA, Jan 10: Although Wah Cantonment --with 99 per cent literacy rate --is claimed to be a “model city” as far as education is concerned, a primary school run in the city’s posh locality is a stigma as it has no proper infrastructure, roof, recreational and teaching facilities and seeks attention of the city administration, officials of the education department and elected representatives.

Government Gilani Primary School No 2, Lalazar Wah Cantonment is otherwise making significant contribution to the cause of education by catering to the needs of lower middle class but still it is a picture of neglect and apathy of the authorities concerned.

When you visit to the school, you would find yourself in some remote village of the country.

Despite being government-run school students and teachers share the rent of the school premises located on the roof-top of a plaza with only two rooms, and has been imparting education for the last twenty years.

In the school’s vicinity auto workshops, hotel, snooker club and woodworks shops are located and the noise of auto mechanics and saw machines is a constant source of disturbance for the students.

The students-- 93 boys and 72 girls-- belong to less privileged and down trodden of Lala Zar, Lala Rukh, Bhabra, Ghattia, Ahmed Nagar and other localities. and students are studying from first grade to 5 th grade have only four teachers.

There is no protection from chilly and hot weather as the classes have been covered by tent and they do not have electricity at all. Some classes on the roof top of the school are without boundary wall making students vulnerable to free-fall.

In the absence of proper furniture of the students especially of class 1 have no option but to sit on the ground.

Each student is charged Rs15 for meeting the school expenses including rent, water and electricity charges. When asked Nauzhat Nazir, headmistress of the school said that the education authorities, elected representatives and other high ups were well aware of the condition of the school.

She said that this was the only school in this area, which had female teachers and that was why parents from poor class enrolled their children in this school.

Another teacher, who asked not to be named, said that a building was established for this school but it was later on handed over to some other school due to political pressure. She said that despite the fact that students of this school belongs to poor class but they are intelligent ad hardworking as the school secured 89 per cent, 100 per cent, 100 per cent and 98 per cent results during primary standard examination during year 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004 respectively.

Dr Saeed Ahmed, a resident of area said that it was pity that former Member Punjab Assembly from the area was also an educationist by profession and run his school a few furlongs away from here had done nothing to the get separate and appropriate building for the school.

Syed Asim Ali, another resident of the area said that the school was playing its role in noble cause as it carters to the need of that class for the last 20 years.

It is high time that politicians and big wings of Punjab education department instead making tall claims come forward and took practical steps for betterment of masses rather than befooling masses with tall and false claims.