Peshawar's Sikh community school gets new lease on life

Published September 6, 2017
Located in Jogan Shah area the Rising Hope Public School is the only school providing education to the Sikh community. — DawnNews
Located in Jogan Shah area the Rising Hope Public School is the only school providing education to the Sikh community. — DawnNews

A school run by the Sikh community in Peshawar will continue operations after fears arose earlier that it would have to halt operations after being asked to vacate premises on Wednesday.

The Rising Hope Public School located in Peshawar’s Jogan Shah area, next to a historical Gurdwara, is the only private school providing education to the Sikh community in the area.

Principal Gurpal Singh explained that the school administration does not own the property where it is built, "and this is a problem" as it has had to change three buildings due to various problems.

Earlier today, the owner of the premises had asked the admiministration to vacate the building as it was to be sold, Gurpal said.

However, the crisis was averted after the administration approached the new owner of the building and requested them to allow the school to continue operations over there.

"The new owner agreed to give the building on rent to the school management at new contract," Gurpal said, adding that the new owner had also increased the monthly rent of the building from Rs30,000 to Rs35,000 and the security deposit of Rs150,000 to Rs300,000.

"However, this is a temporary solution and the community wants to see a more permanent solution to the problem," the principal said, adding that they were looking to the government for a permanent solution to the problem.

Gurpal said that the school’s administration had also approached the provincial education department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak, and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for a permanent building for the school but to no avail.

However, earlier today when the issue had yet to be resolved, the PTI had tweeted offering students at Rising Hope enrollment in other KP public schools.

Rising Hope Public School began as a single-room school almost three years ago, and had attracted a number of children from the neighbourhood.

Over 250 students, including girls, are currently enrolled in school which primarily runs on community donations.

Over 50 per cent of the students, mostly from the Sikh community, are receiving free education at the school.

Although Rising Hope is a Sikh community school, it also serves Christian, Hindu and Muslim students.

Opinion

First line of defence

First line of defence

Pakistan’s foreign service has long needed reform to be able to adapt to global changes and leverage opportunities in a more multipolar world.

Editorial

Eid amidst crises
Updated 31 Mar, 2025

Eid amidst crises

Until the Muslim world takes practical steps to end these atrocities, these besieged populations will see no joy.
Women’s rights
Updated 01 Apr, 2025

Women’s rights

Such judgements, and others directly impacting women’s rights should be given more airtime in media.
Not helping
Updated 02 Apr, 2025

Not helping

If it's committed to peace in Balochistan, the state must draw a line between militancy and legitimate protest.
Hard habits
Updated 30 Mar, 2025

Hard habits

Their job is to ensure that social pressures do not build to the point where problems like militancy and terrorism become a national headache.
Dreams of gold
30 Mar, 2025

Dreams of gold

PROSPECTS of the Reko Diq project taking off soon seem to have brightened lately following the completion of the...
No invitation
30 Mar, 2025

No invitation

FOR all of Pakistan’s hockey struggles, including their failure to qualify for the Olympics and World Cup as well...