Daily Times

The only good thing that came out of the APS school attack was that terrorists shook us out of our reverie. The bad thing was that though temporarily awakened, we flailed bewilderedly in all directions; conveniently missing the elephant in the room.

Sindh is notorious for its sorry state of education, with people dragged in poverty and their miserable lives a fortune at their doors. The lowest educational rate and the persistence of poverty are the two most common sectors that the people of Sindh have been suffering from. According to the Alif Ailan, the enrolment ratio of schoolgirls in Sindh declined to 39 per cent compared to 61 per cent boys. On average, the overall dropout rate in primary classes in Sindh is 23 per cent, according to an investigation report. The investigative report was based on research, interviews of stakeholders and filed observations. It said that the main reason for low enrolment and high dropout in rural areas is the location of schools five to 10 kilometres away from villages and other settlements.

Despite the sorry state of education in Sindh, certain educational institutions are contributing selflessly to society with their best available resources. The exponential dropping rate of education in the public sector in Sindh has given rise to an increasing enrollment rate in the private sector. Meanwhile, the concept of public-private partnerships in Sindh has been viably implemented. The private sector has, undoubtedly, contributed to Sindh.

Private-sector schools and colleges have been left to their fate

In Sindh, private educational institutions are facing security dilemmas and threats in different forms. Recently, decoits and robbers entered the house of owners of Evershine Group of Colleges in Ranipur city of Khair Pur. The house is inside the college where the hostels are situated. More than 1000 students from across Pakistan are getting quality education in the college. The owner of the Ministry of Education, Islamabad’s college was attacked on the night of December 22. His family was sieged for hours. The robbers stole the cash and jewellery; severely injuring the brother of the patron-in-chief. The ordeal continued for two hours, and the police was also informed. However, it bitterly failed to protect the victims while the decoits were given safe havens. The Patron-in-Chief of Evershine College regretted that our services to the poor people were rewarded in the worst form of victimisation, assault and attacks by the enemies of education in Sindh.

While this is a recent incident, one can easily say that the private-sector schools and colleges have been left to their fate. This will not only create a sense of insecurity in investors but also bring down the already-looming situation of education in Sindh. However, it is high time to protect and give security to the private education sector. The small number of investors, which invests in private education in rural Sindh, needs to be cooperated with.

Meanwhile, the primary focus should remain on the perimeter; making it difficult for unauthorised people to access the facility. It should be ensured that the surroundings are kept clear of objects obstructing a clear view.

Ensure all entrances/exits are properly manned and locked when not in use. “No Parking” should be enforced in front of the exits and entrances. Wherever possible, have CCTV coverage of entrances and exits, which is monitored by the security guard or gatekeeper, particularly when the school is in session. Inside the school premises, consider having a safe haven/room. The building structure can be enabled to lock out unauthorised persons. Install alarms that can be activated safely from the inside, which sound locally and remotely. In case of a remote alarm, an appropriate service can be set up with private security partners or even authorities who will respond. The benefit of a local alarm is that it can alert the neighbours who can also ensure that authorities are informed. In some locations, there are multiple schools in a small area and the alarm could serve to warn neighbouring schools as well.

In summary, parents and schools have to come together and review all they can do at their ends. The capacity of the authorities to deliver an effective plan will rely on the basics being put in place by the institutions. The elements for an effective safety and security programme need to consider:

Engagement with the appropriate experts and authorities.

Surveying the school for safety and security improvements.

Formation of a team of school staff, parents and even senior students, if appropriate.

Setting up an effective communication system.

Defining, training and practising your plan.

Inevitably, the government cannot do all this alone. However, the private sector and the local law enforcement institutions, such as the police and the local administration, should come forth to ensure security so that the larger goal of educating poor people can be turned into reality.

The writer is sub-editor at the Daily Times. He is graduate of School of Economics, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad