RAWALPINDI: The ill effects of privatising government schools in the face of massive protests have started manifesting. A stark example is the Government Primary School in Omanga village, Gujjar Khan Tehsil, Rawalpindi district, which was handed over to the Government Primary School Education Foundation in 2016. The institution was discreetly shut down three years ago. Today, the once-thriving school lies in ruins, a testament to neglect and abandonment. Thieves have stripped the premises of
Child Rights in Focus
SARGODHA: The Kot Momin police arrested three people, including the would-be groom, and foiled an underage marriage. A case was registered against the accused under the Child Marriage Restraint Act and other provisions. The police were alerted that some people had planned the forced marriage of a 13-year-old girl in village Hujan, Kot Momin. The would-be groom, Hassan Mujtabi, was from New Satellite Town in Sargodha city. Kot Momin police booked Abid Hussain Kazmi
PESHAWAR: Participants in a consultation workshop on 21st October underscored the importance of making climate and environmental education part of curriculum to raise awareness among youth about the issue. The workshop titled ‘Empowering Change: A Workshop on Systems Thinking for Climate Change and Environmental Education’ was organised by the Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED), Karachi, in connection with its Climate Action Fellowship (CAF-2024) initiative. Fozia Parveen, assistant professor AKU-IED and the
HARIPUR: Three children, including two siblings, were allegedly assaulted during the last two days in different parts of the Haripur city, the police said here on 20th October. One of the accused, allegedly a prayer leader, was arrested while the man charged in another FIR was still at large, the police said. SHO Saddar police station Chaudhry Khalid Khan said father of two siblings complained that his 11-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter learnt Holy
The FIR states that the 7-year-old boy went to the farmhouse to drink water while playing cricket. A child who went to drink water at a farmhouse was shot dead by a security guard. As reported by Express News, the police stated that the shooting incident took place in the Chohang area of Lahore. A case has been registered based on the complaint of the deceased boy’s father. The FIR states that the 7-year-old
Police have registered a case regarding the murders of four females in a Lyari flat. FIR No. 279/24 was filed at the Baghdadi police station on the complaint of the head of the family, Muhammad Farooq, whose son Bilal was later arrested as the prime suspect. Although the complainant had not named any suspects in the FIR, which was registered against unidentified persons, he had expressed suspicion about the involvement of his son. “I
• 40 children died this year due to highly contagious bacterial infection • Outbreaks reported in three Karachi districts, Larkana and Dadu • Expert says diphtheria has staged a comeback in 2023 after 30 years • EPI director says there are 3,500 vaccinators against a requirement of 12,000 KARACHI: As the government attempts to tackle multiple outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases in the province, experts have called for a probe into the efficacy of diphtheria vaccine currently
AS the world gets smaller, with knowledge-sharing across borders, the growth of AI and easy access to free learning platforms, teachers find newer ways of teaching. Many schools have addressed the need for change, collaborating within their teams to design better lesson plans, cater to students’ changing learning styles, and keep up with new trends. Recent curriculum reforms have introduced student-centered pedagogy focused on inquiry-based approaches. However, the real question is whether the changes
KHYBER: Abrupt termination of employment contracts of 3000 hired teachers for government primary schools in the province by the provincial education authorities rendered around 300 highly qualified teachers jobless in the district. Sources in the Education Department said on October 19 that the provincial government had hired the services of these teachers, both male and female in March 2022, on a one-year contract to temporarily fill the vacant posts at the primary school level.
Govt insists no rape occurred at a Lahore college but the protests in response are fueled by years of injustice Karachi/Lahore: In a country where popular political leaders have publicly passed judgements on the character and veracity of rape victims, perhaps it is no surprise that sexual violence against women and girls has emerged as a national emergency. In fact, according to a report published by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO), nineteen women
PESHAWAR: Palwasha’s (not her real name) story is one of resilience and hope. She was diagnosed with HIV following blood transfusion when she was 16. Now 34, she lives a fulfilling life despite the challenges. But she is grateful that treatment coupled with precaution, she was able to limit the disease to herself. “I am happy that my husband and children have tested negative,” she says, her voice filled with gratitude. However, Palwasha’s experience
LAHORE: The chief minister has sought a practical and sustainable plan to eliminate environmental samples of poliovirus. Maryam Nawaz was presiding over a meeting regarding elimination of polio here on October 19. A decision was made to track and register mobile and migrant populations in Punjab. The chief minister directed an effective vaccination campaign at all entry points of Punjab. She also ordered a comprehensive and effective vaccination initiative in order to achieve the desired goal