ISLAMABAD - Parents in northern Pakistan have complained that government-run schools have turned into âlabour campsâ as teachers force children to do their domestic chores, a news report said on Wednesday.Daily Dawn quoted parents in northern Chitral valley as claiming their kids are used to clean offices and classroom despite all schools having a janitorial staff. âTeachers even take them home and force to help in construction of houses and harvesting and threshing crops,â an unnamed resident of Mastuj village told the newspaper.
However, officials in the education department said they were unaware about such illegal activities. âEngaging schoolchildren in any type of activity other than academic is disallowed. We will take disciplinary actions if we find anybody involve in such activities,â said Sherdil Aman, a senior district education officer.
Education acitivists believe corporal punishment and the indecent attitude of teachers are major reasons for the increasing dropout rates of students in Pakistan. According to the Society for Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), about half of the children who enroll in school drop out before completing fifth grade and those who complete it have low learning achievements, especially in literacy and numeracy.
| But they can chant all 6,000 verses of the Qu'ran, and that's what's important. |