KARACHI: The Sindh School Education and Literacy Department has directed all privately managed schools across the province to strictly implement building safety protocols following a tragic incident in Peshawar in which the collapse of a school building resulted in the loss of several young lives.
In a directive issued on October 16 by Rafia Javed, Additional Director Registration at the Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions Sindh, school owners and principals have been instructed to ensure that their buildings are structurally sound, safe and fit for educational activities. The department has warned that schools operating in unsafe buildings will face suspension of educational activities and legal action against those responsible.
According to the circular, all private schools must immediately address structural defects and complete necessary repairs and maintenance. Any portion of a school building identified as unsafe must remain out of use until the required repairs have been completed and the area has been declared safe.
The directive states that school owners or principals must immediately inform the relevant directorate if a building is found to be structurally weak, damaged, dilapidated or otherwise unsafe. Educational activities at such premises must be suspended forthwith.
The concerned directorate will facilitate the relocation of affected students to nearby safe school buildings to ensure that their education continues without putting their lives at risk.
The department has also made it mandatory for all privately managed schools to obtain a valid building fitness certificate from the relevant building control authority. School administrations must keep the certificate available for verification by inspection committees to establish that their premises meet the required structural safety standards.
The circular further directs all unregistered private schools to immediately apply for registration with the relevant directorate and fulfil the applicable legal requirements. Any unregistered school found operating in a dangerous or structurally unsafe building will be reported to the concerned district administration for immediate closure or sealing, as warranted by law. Legal proceedings will also be initiated against the responsible school owners and principals.
To prevent electrical accidents, fires and other foreseeable hazards, the department has ordered regular inspections of electrical wiring, switchboards, laboratories, kitchens, generator rooms, gas installations and other high-risk areas.
School administrations have been instructed to ensure that necessary maintenance and repairs are carried out by qualified professionals. Appropriate fire extinguishers and emergency response arrangements must also be maintained wherever required.
The directive places primary responsibility for the safety of school premises on owners, principals and managements. It warns that negligence, concealment of safety-related information or failure to comply with the prescribed measures will invite administrative and legal action in accordance with the law.
Inspection committees of the respective directorates have been directed to conduct regular, random and surprise inspections of private schools across Sindh to assess the structural condition of buildings and verify compliance with the safety protocols.
Where serious deficiencies, structural hazards or an imminent threat to human life are identified, the authorities have been instructed to take immediate protective measures, including suspension of educational activities and sealing of the premises wherever necessary. Affected students will be shifted to nearby safe school buildings.
The department has emphasised that the safety and well-being of children must remain the foremost priority of every educational institution. Financial constraints, administrative shortcomings or any other consideration will not be allowed to take precedence over the protection of human life.
The circular directs all private school owners, principals and managements to treat the instructions as a top priority and ensure their immediate implementation in letter and spirit, warning that no compromise will be tolerated where the safety of students and school staff is concerned.