Students suffer as loadshedding, temperature spike in capital
ISLAMABAD – Long hours of loadshedding and scorching heat on Thursday caused troubles for students enrolled in senior and junior classes of the public sector schools and colleges functional under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).
Officials at FDE informed that long hours of loadshedding and technical fault in the transformer providing electricity to the Government Girls School Shah Allah Ditta has made continuation of educational activities for students and teachers very difficult.
Officials informed that due to non-availability of power and increased temperature, it has become difficult to carry out the educational activities inside and outside classrooms.
“Due to power outage, teachers tried to conduct classes in the veranda, however, the scorching heat made it impossible,” officials said. Officials also said that a number of students got de-hydrated because of this situation and teachers fear that it will be impossible to carry long hours of classes if loadshedding and heat wave continues.
Officials informed that the power outage has severely affected educational activities in the rural schools and colleges under FDE where loadshedding hours are comparatively longer than the urban areas.
Officials also informed that along with the power outage, the heat spell is causing more difficulties for students who travel back home at daytime.
“Even in the classrooms, the schools and colleges do not have sufficient alternate arrangements to keep students safe from heat stroke, and electric water coolers also become useless in absence of electricity,” said a senior official.
Federal Government Teachers Association Malik Ameer Khan talking to The Nation said that the power outage in educational institutions these days is affecting students’ studies.
“In this temperature when there is no electricity, focusing on studies becomes difficult naturally,” he said.
Khan said that along with scheduled loadshedding, in some areas there are problems with the transformers which adds to the misery of students.
Director Schools FDE Abdul Waheed talking to The Nation said that there are no reports of fainting of students at Shah Allah Ditta or any school, but of course unavailability of light is a problem for students.
He said, “Coping hot, humid weather along with power outages is certainly difficult.”
Meanwhile, National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training (FEPT) member Mehnaz Aziz inquired from the ministry in the meeting held about late summer vacations in the Islamabad Capital Territory schools and colleges.
Secretary of the Ministry of FEPT Farah Hamid said that the ministry is re-considering the decision of announcing summer vacations in schools from July 18 and holding a meeting in this regard.
Earlier, the Senate Standing Committee on FEPT also directed the ministry to start the summer vacations in federal schools from July 1 like the Punjab government did.
The FDE on Tuesday announced the summer vacation schedule of the public sector schools and colleges of capital.
According to the announcement made, the summer vacations will be held from July 18, 2021 to August 1, 2021.
The notification issued to all area education officers said, “Consequent upon the approval of the competent authority, I am directed to state that the summer vacations shall be observed in all educational institutions working under the ambit of Federal Directorate of Education w.e.f 18-07-2021 to 01-08-2021.
Article source: https://nation.com.pk/02-Jul-2021/students-suffer-as-loadshedding-temperature-spike-in-capital