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College Education Secretary Shahab Qamar Ansari shared that in first phase, 200 teachers from across Sindh will be trained. PHOTO: PIXABAY
RAWALPINDI:
Due to an acute shortage of government funds, the Government Institute for Slow Learners in Rawalpindi is facing serious difficulties, threatening the education of 120 young girls and boys enrolled at the school.
The institute does not have its own government building and operates from rented premises.
However, rent payments are not made on time and are paid in instalments, causing repeated disputes with building owners who eventually force the school to vacate.
Currently, the school is operating from a building in Chaklala Scheme, where the owner has issued a notice to vacate by December 31, stating that locks will be placed on the building on January 1 and the school’s belongings will be thrown out.
The head of the institute met Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi and informed him of the situation. The minister wrote and faxed a letter to the deputy commissioner and advised the principal to approach him. A written application was also submitted to the deputy commissioner, but no progress has been made even after three days.
The principal said space is available in several government schools, including Government Muslim High School Syedpur Road and Islamia Higher Secondary School No 1, where the institute could be accommodated.
She added that the institute’s budget is extremely limited and it cannot afford a new rented building, commissions demanded by property dealers, or advance payments required by landlords.
She further stated that building owners in cantonment areas have refused to rent premises to the institute, citing heavy commercial taxes imposed by the cantonment board.
The principal has appealed to the commissioner, deputy commissioner, District Education Authority, all MNAs and MPAs from Rawalpindi, senators, and federal and provincial ministers to resolve the issue.
