LAHORE / PESHAWAR: All public and most private schools in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will reopen on Monday after remaining closed for a few days for security reasons.

But, at least 12 chains of major schools have refused to follow suit till the government resolves the ‘security’ issue. The Punjab government had closed all schools from Jan 26 to 31 because of ‘extreme cold weather’.

On Sunday, the government held talks with the All Pakistan Private Schools Federation (APPSF) and claimed to have redressed its grievances. However, it did not discuss the matter with representatives of the elite schools.

Most other private schools in Punjab to reopen today

“The government has not taken us on board. We will not reopen our schools till the government ensures security and stops harassment,” a spokesman for the elite schools told Dawn.

When asked whether the APPSF did not represent the elite schools, he said: “The association (APPSF) did not take us on board while holding talks with the education minister.”

He urged the government to discharge its duty and assume the responsibility of providing security to their students and institutions.

The schools not reopening in Punjab on Monday are Lahore Grammar School, and institutions belonging to Beaconhouse Group (including BN and TNS-B), City School Network, LACAS, Salamat School System, Kids Kampus, Learning Alliance and Lahore Preschool, Resource Academia, LGS Landmark Schools, Allied Schools, Smart Schools and the Educators.

These schools informed the parents through mobile SMS that their campuses would remain closed on Monday.

However, the APPSF and All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association announced that all private schools in Punjab would reopen on Monday.

After a meeting with Punjab Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed, representatives of the APPSF announced that ‘all’ private schools in the province would reopen on Monday.

He said that the schools that had been sealed because of unsatisfactory security arrangements were being allowed to reopen immediately.

“The cases registered against the owners of some schools have been quashed on completion of security arrangements.

No action will be taken against any school on the individual report of any official,” he said.

Mr Mashhood said that police would not be allowed to harass the school staff in the name of security. The management of private schools would not allow anyone to enter their institutions without satisfying itself with his identity. No action, he said, would be taken against any school without the recommendation of the security committee concerned. “No compromise will be made on security SOPs.”

The minister said that no case would be registered against any school in future. However, he added, owners of private schools would have to fulfil their responsibilities about security of children.

“The entire nation is in a state of war against terrorism but closure of schools will serve the agenda of terrorists,” he said, adding that our next generation was our future and its protection was ‘our prime duty’.

Meanwhile, the government issued a notification regarding SOPs (standard operating procedures) the schools will follow for security.

When the minister was asked what action would be taken against the schools not reopening on Monday, he said: “New SOPs will be formulated for them.”

Meanwhile, two major chains of private schools in KP announced that their institutions would remain closed from Monday till further notice, citing terror threats.

Parents of students of The City School and Beaconhouse School System have received the message about the closure.

“All schools of Beaconhouse School System will remain closed till further order,” one parent told Dawn, referring to a mobile SMS he had received on Sunday evening.

Other private and government institutions will, however, reopen on Monday.

Khwaja Yawar Naseer, president of the Private Educational Institutions Management Association, said that private schools would reopen on Monday.

In Karachi, schools will reopen on Monday.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2016