ISLAMABAD: A proposal made by Prime Minister Imran Khan in his first speech of inviting private schools to use government buildings in the evenings may bring relief for Islamabad’s private school owners, who are facing the operation against non-conforming use of residential properties.

In his first speech, the prime minister had proposed that in order to bring out of school children into schools, the government is thinking about starting double shifts and that private schools will be invited to use government school buildings in the evenings on rent.

“Around 25 million children are out of school and we will not allow this injustice [to continue],” he said.

Private school operators in Islamabad have said they will get relief if government school buildings are rented to them for the evening shift.

PM Imran Khan had in his first speech invited private schools to use govt buildings in the evenings on rent

Currently, 363 private schools are operating in residential areas, in violation of Capital Development Authority (CDA) bylaws and have been issued notices by the CDA.

The CDA also recently sealed over 50 schools but re-opened them on the directives of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

On the other hand, private school owners have been demanding that instead of sealing schools and issuing notices, the CDA should provide a solution to the problem.

They said that in the past, CDA had allotted hundreds of plots to government schools, most of which are underutilised.

“Imran Khan’s proposal is positive. There are 423 government schools in the capital, the buildings of which can be used in the evenings by private schools. This will solve the issue of non-conforming use and the government could also earn handsome revenues in rent. The issue of out of school children will also be addressed,” said Zofran Elahi, president Private School Association.

He said private schools are willing to use government school buildings on rent in the afternoons.

An office bearer of the Private School Association, Abdul Waheed Khan said that the out of school children issue can be solved with public-private partnership.

“We are ready to help the government overcome the out of school children issue,” he said.

During a recent discussion on the non-conforming use of residential properties by private schools, the CDA board had decided that from no onwards, it will earmark plots for private schools in all sub-sectors of new sectors. Earlier, the authority had allotted plots only for schools run by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE). Many private schools were, however, allotted amenity plots in H-8 on nominal charges.

CDA officials told Dawn that according to CDA bylaws, private schools could not operate in residential areas and that there is no real solution to the problem other than the creation of new plots in urban areas and sharing government school buildings and plots.

They said that along with school operators CDA is also responsible for the mushroom growth of private schools in residential areas as it has not taken action against them nor did it earmark plots for private schools.

FDE is supposed to look after the affairs of the 423 government schools and colleges in the federal capital and the buildings of many are underutilised.

FDE Director General Hasnat Qureshi said the directorate will implement whatever decision the government makes for the promotion of education.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2018