Back to school, back to traffic jams

The long 92-day summer vacation has ended and all government and private schools, colleges, academies and educational institutions across the province, including Rawalpindi division, have reopened. As schools reopened, their previously subdued activity returned, but traffic jams during school opening and closing hours also became routine. Hundreds of carts selling unhealthy ice lollies, colourful drinks, unhealthy chana chaat, ice, gol gappas and other items appeared outside schools. Students were welcomed under the "School Back Welcome" slogan, while teachers and non-teaching staff stood at the entrances with flower petals and showered them on students. Chief Executive Officer of the District Education Authority Yasin Baloch said teachers welcomed students with smiles. The activity of schools and colleges resumed, while stalls also appeared outside educational institutions. However, under the SOPs, CCTV cameras could not be installed in government and private schools and security guards were also unavailable. Grass and weeds growing in school grounds and corridors had not been cut, while water leakage from rooftops also continued. Despite the long vacation, very few students attended educational institutions on the first day. As a result, teaching activities at schools largely consisted of "hello, how were your holidays?" conversations. President of the All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association Irfan Muzaffar Kiyani welcomed the reopening of schools and said children should not be given more holidays until the annual examinations, with only 10 days of winter vacation. He said only six months remained until the annual examinations and teaching was still to be completed. Students had also completed their return from their grandparents' homes and recreational destinations on Sunday. As soon as schools reopened, pick-and-drop fares increased by 100pc. Owners and drivers of pick-and-drop vehicles handed new fare schedules to parents, leaving them worried. Traffic congestion also returned with the reopening of schools. Roads with educational institutions remained completely jammed in the morning and especially during school closing hours, from 1.30pm to 2.30pm, with traffic moving at a crawl. There was heavy rush on roads outside schools in the morning, along with a large number of pick-and-drop vehicles. Students said they were happy that schools had reopened, adding that they had enjoyed the holidays and would now study hard.   box Gas cylinders banned in school vans   our correspondent RAWALPINDI. The Education Department has taken strict measures for the safety of children following the reopening of educational institutions, prohibiting the installation of gas cylinders in all vehicles used for students' pick-and-drop service. A ban has also been imposed on hanging students' schoolbags outside pick-and-drop vehicles. Rickshaw drivers dropping children at school in the morning have been barred from seating children on the front seat alongside the driver. The department has made it clear that an FIR will be registered against drivers violating the orders, while they may also be arrested and sent to jail. Overloading of students in all public transport vehicles has also been prohibited. Strict instructions have been issued to owners of all pick-and-drop vehicles. The department said there was a risk of gas cylinders exploding and cylinders could not be allowed in vehicles carrying children during the summer. Action would be taken against any driver who installed a gas cylinder. A special warning has also been issued to rickshaws used for children's pick-and-drop service. Hanging children's schoolbags outside rickshaws has been declared improper, while rickshaw drivers have been barred from seating any student on the front seat beside them.