Closure of schools due to smog draws criticism

Rawalpindi: Pakistan Ch­am­ber of Education President Muhammad Asif expressed concern over the repeated closures of schools, citing smog, heat, and cold as reasons, says a press release. He stated that it is unwise to continually disrupt the education process and called for alternative solutions.

Commenting on the recent decision by the Punjab government to close schools due to smog, Asif emphasized that education is a fundamental right of every child, as guaranteed under Article 25-A of the Constitution. “The suspension of educational activities due to smog is not a long-term solution. Instead of shutting down schools, we should focus on promoting green schools, adopting green energy solutions, and temporarily restricting smoke-emitting industries,” Asif suggested. He highlighted that only 2 per cent of children from elite backgrounds can access online learning from home, while the vast majority are left behind each time schools are closed.