Daily Times

LAHORE: Several private schools in the provincial capital lack playgrounds and other sports facilities which are said to be a key element in raising learning capabilities of students, Daily Times has learnt.

Most of such schools have been established on (3-7) marlas of land where they barely provide classrooms to all students, leave alone playgrounds and other recreational activities. But when it comes to fee, such schools are charging fee ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 per student monthly.

However, according to The Punjab Private Educational Institutions (Promotion and Regulation) (Amend) Ordinance, 1984, all private schools must have a playground of the size of a hockey / football or a cricket ground before getting registered.

On the other side, schools located in elite residential areas such as Johar Town, Gulberg, Model Town, Defence, Wapda Town and many others are charging heavy fee ranging from Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000 per month provide some sports facilities and playgrounds.

Talking to Daily Times, Amir – a grade-5 student of a low-cost private school – said he and his friends wanted to play cricket and other sports during the recess timings but they couldn’t due to lack of playground at their school. “When I return from the school I go to a tuition centre leaving me with no option but to play games during recess timing, but our school does not have a playground where we can spend our leisure time while playing games,” he said.

Rizwan, father of three – whose two children are studying in a school without a playground – said that he could not afford high fees of elite schools but he wanted his children to play games.

“As the school does not have any facility where my children can play games, I demand the government and the Education Department not to register such schools that don’t have playgrounds,” he said. Rizwan held the Education Department responsible for registering such schools against the ordinance, which was implemented in 1984.

Meanwhile, school owners claimed that they were charging very nominal fee from students.

A school owner, on the condition of anonymity, said that schools have had their own expenses including utility bills, salaries of employees (teachers, administrative staff) and it was difficult for them to accommodate playground while charging “nominal fee”.

“Every school owner wants to provide quality education with all facilities for capacity building and physical training of students, but several hurdles did not allow us to provide these facilities, he concluded.