Daily Times

Imagine at a school/college/university office teachers are sitting busy by discussing gun standards. This is 9mm made in china, says a teacher to his colleague; further asks him about his short gun. Such talks appear no strange in the vicinities of educational institutions in Pakistan. Educational institutions have been a very soft target of terrorists in Pakistan.

Educational institutions under attack

The brutal attack on Army Public School on 16th December 2014 by Taliban killing 151 people, 144 of whom were students shows a bleak picture. It’s a sorry state that list of such incidents is a long one. On October 9,2012 MalalaYousufzai was shot in her forehead for she believed in girls’ right to education. In January 5, 2014 Aitzaz Hasan died while preventing a suicide bomber from entering his school.

The most recent attack on Bacha Khan University on 2oth January by four terrorists killing 21 people including a professor of chemistry contributes in terrorising the atmosphere of education. The appalling conditions speak of many things. A segment of society in peak of extremism. Education section remains a vulnerable point of their target. Teachers, students and families in general masses are the ones who are the sufferers.

Teachers should not be with arms

The Khyber Pakhtunkhua government after the APS attack decided to allow employs of all educational institution including teachers to carry licensed arms on the premises to respond in cases of terrorist attack. Carrying guns remained common after Charsadda attack.

Although self-defense is crucial, at a larger sense its state responsibility unharming its institutions and citizens. With regard to education institutions, the respective administration should have a tight security management instead of allowing teachers to carry arms.

In case the teachers are to carry arms, there emerge several psychological disturbances. A teacher with a gun will have a diverted mind probably would think about attacks. This disturbs his or her performance. Misusing the weapons may become an issue.

Philosophical role of teachers

Furthermore, teachers do have a philosophical role play. Imparting knowledge, discovering the talents of students, making the pupils think, teaching the lessons of humanity, preparing for the practical life etc. Arming teachers deteriorates this role. The profession of teaching is primarily the profession of making the mind of a generation. Being creative and making the pupils becoming creative is what an effective teacher does.