RAHIM YAR KHAN: Locals, including parents, have strongly objected to a reception given to the new chief executive officer (CEO) of the District Education Authority (DEA), at a girls’ high school, where students beat drums in the form of a band.

The reaction came following surfacing of a video clip of the event on social media, showing the principal of Government Model Girls High School (GMGHS) presenting a flower bouquet to the CEO and some of the teachers “trying to please” the officer.

The principal and teachers were accused of indulging in sycophancy to please the new DEO.

The video clip also shows the students standing in queues, clad in band uniforms and beating drums to welcome the CEO.

Some of the parents termed it degrading for their daughters to wear band uniforms and beat drums.

Principal Ms Rashida Kamil told this correspondent that students just participated in a drum performance within the school premises and there was nothing wrong with it. She said some people are in the habit of portraying things negatively. She added that the reception for the newly posted CEO was held according to the Standard Operating Procedures of the education department.

“However, if people have felt annoyed, I will avoid holding such events in future,” she said.

When contacted, CEO Malik Muhammad Aamir said he personally didn’t like such receptions and would issue directives that no such event should be held in any school of the district in the future.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2025