The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered the re-registration of all schools in Punjab within a month, emphasizing strict adherence to court directives, according to 24NewsHD TV Channel.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

The ruling came during a hearing on Monday, where the court also set a 15-day deadline for the Education Department to draft comprehensive rules for school bus safety.

Khalid Nazir Watto, Secretary of School Education (SED), and Nazir Hussain, CEO of Schools Education, were summoned to court for failing to implement previous orders.

Earlier, the court had mandated that no school without a proper bus system should be registered. However, despite this directive, the Education Department continued to renew registrations for all schools, leading to the court’s dissatisfaction.

As a result, contempt notices were issued to education officials, requiring them to provide detailed explanations for their non-compliance.

The LHC’s ruling aims to strengthen safety measures for students, particularly regarding transportation, and warns education authorities to comply with the new regulations to avoid further legal action.

Secretary for School Education Calls Meeting with Major School Chains

In response to the LHC’s instructions, Schools Education Department Punjab Secretary Khalid Nazir Watto has called a meeting with major school chains on December 31.

According to reports, the secretary stated that registrations would only be granted to schools that purchase their own buses for student pick-up and drop-off.

Private Schools Express Concerns Over Bus Requirement

Private school owners in Lahore have raised objections to the recent requirement for schools to buy buses as part of efforts to address smog and environmental pollution. They argue that 95% of private schools lack the resources to purchase buses for their students.

The owners contend that the responsibility for providing public transportation should lie with the government, as stipulated in the constitution.

They have called for a review of the decision, arguing that imposing the bus requirement without considering the financial constraints of schools is unfair. They also urge the government to focus on improving public transportation systems rather than burdening private institutions.

Moreover, private school owners have requested a fair hearing for all stakeholders before any punitive measures are taken, emphasizing that such actions should be based on consultations with all involved parties.

Table of Contents