Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has announced strict measures to improve the condition of unsafe government school buildings across the province, saying authorities will not hold classes in hazardous structures.
The move comes after a tuition center roof collapse in Lahore’s Kahna area killed at least 14 students. Rescue teams, with help from residents, carried out a long rescue operation and pulled out 20 injured children and one teacher from the rubble.
The minister said the government is collecting fitness data from all government schools in Punjab. He added that work is already underway to rebuild around 550 dangerous school buildings.
Rana Sikandar Hayat said nearly 100 schools may be in such poor condition that authorities cannot use them. However, he said classes can continue in buildings that have proper maps and safety records.
He also assured women who give tuition from their homes that the government will not harass them or place unnecessary restrictions on their work.
The minister urged parents to monitor school buildings and report unsafe conditions. He also said that after some schools were privatized, officials found missing items such as fans and desks in several buildings.
Rana Sikandar Hayat added that Punjab faces a major education challenge, with around six million children still out of school, and said the government is working to improve enrolment.
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