Mos government and private schools without drinking water facility

Most schools without drinking water facility

Rawalpindi:Students in the majority of government and private schools in Rawalpindi are facing the problem of drinking water. They have to bear thirst in the prevailing hot weather throughout the day, but school managements are totally unmoved against it.

Reliable sources said that some private schools charge Rs5-10 per student every day to purchase water through tankers.

Talking to ‘The News,’ parents of students studying in government and private schools complained against non-availability of drinking water on the premises. Most schools do not have water coolers and the condition of water tanks is poor. Water is available in some schools but not fit for drinking due to dirty water tanks, they said. “We cannot afford to pay Rs5-10 daily for water supply through tankers. The schools managements charge heavy fee but fail to make arrangements for drinking water,” parents said.

Rawalpindi Association of Private Schools (RAPS) President Captain (r) Ameer-ud-Din Shaikh admitted the fact and said: “We have to purchase water through tankers for Rs800 but it is not enough for hundreds of students.” He said that the dilemma of water shortage is being faced by people in the whole country. There is neither drinking water nor water for use in toilets in schools. Children cannot survive without water, he said.

When ‘The News’ contacted Executive District Officer (EDO) Education Qazi Zahoor, he also admitted that schools are facing shortage of water. He said that water consumption doubles in summer as compared to winter that causes its shortage. “We are trying to arrange for extra water tankers in schools to avoid this problem,” he assured. He assured strict action against those schools, which are charging Rs5-10 daily from students to purchase water.

A survey conducted by ‘The News’ reveals that more than 80% of government and 60% private educational institutions have no proper arrangements for drinking water. Most schools neither have water tanks nor any other arrangement for drinking water. Children bring water bottles from their homes, which are not enough for the whole day. Many children do not go to school toilets due to absence of water. Male students manage in emergency situation but female students face problems in this regard.

Muhammad Rizwan, student of a government school, said that there is no water available in his school for three years. Teachers bring water from nearby houses, but students are not permitted to go out.The news