Karachi — Following the media briefing by the Prime Minister of Pakistan regarding the closure of schools and colleges across the country for two weeks due to the ongoing fuel crisis and energy conservation measures, the All Private Schools Management Association Sindh (APSMA) has shared its position on the matter.
Chairman APSMA Sindh, Syed Tariq Shah, stated that the association supports the government’s policy aimed at ensuring efficient use of energy and conservation during this challenging period. He acknowledged that the country is currently facing a difficult situation due to fuel shortages and the need for responsible management of national resources.
However, he expressed concern that the complete closure of educational institutions may not be the most practical solution.
“While we understand and support the government’s efforts to conserve energy in this time of crisis, closing schools entirely may not be a wise decision. The option of shifting to online education was already tested during the COVID-19 pandemic and it did not prove effective for a large number of schools,” said Syed Tariq Shah.
He further explained that many schools, especially government institutions and low-fee private schools, do not have the infrastructure required for effective online learning.
“In addition, many parents are also unable to fully shift their children to online education due to limited resources, lack of digital devices, internet access issues, and frequent power breakdowns in several areas. These ground realities must be considered before taking such decisions,” he added.
APSMA Sindh suggested that instead of closing schools completely, the government could reduce the number of school days as part of the energy conservation strategy.
“Just as office working days have been reduced in certain sectors, a similar model can be adopted for educational institutions. Schools may operate four days a week instead of five, which would help reduce fuel consumption while ensuring continuity in students’ learning,” he said.
Syed Tariq Shah also urged the Minister for Education Sindh, Sardar Ali Shah, to review the matter carefully in light of the ground realities of the province.
“We request the Honourable Education Minister to take a wise decision for Sindh. The matter should be discussed in the Steering Committee already constituted by the Sindh Government, so that all stakeholders from the education sector are taken on board before implementing such a decision.”
APSMA Sindh reiterated its commitment to cooperating with the government in finding balanced and practical solutions that support national interests while safeguarding the education of students.
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