LAYYAH: Students of matriculation and other classes at school level are taught science through bookish contents as science laboratories in schools are in pathetic conditions across the district, Dawn has learnt.

Up to 99 per cent of the matriculation students go for science subjects in Layyah high schools; because of bleak job prospects, students have given up humanities subjects. For that reason, 99 per cent of the schools have no humanities group classes.

Theteachingofscienceinschoolisalso dreadful with least practical work and more rote learning practices.

The Punjab government allocated funds for the establishment of science labs for better science teaching but this Dawn correspondent visited high schools and found more than 50 per cent of the labs were not functional, and those functional were short of equipment.

There are 162 high schools, including five higher secondary schools, in the district. Of the 77 boys high schools, including three higher secondary schools, 52 schools have science labs while 25 schools are without labs. The science labs of Dinpur, Chowk Azam Muslim High School, Cheenaywala and Chak 174-TDA high schools were not functional as the schools had no science teachers.

Sixteen labs were short of equipment, according to the of ficial date available with Dawn. These labs have not practical tables, rooms, water sanitation systems and necessary material like acids and beakers etc. A science teacher, as per laid down rules, is to teach practical lessons to the students inscience labs on a daily basis or after the completion of every chapter.

The usual practice, however, is that teachers take the students to the labs when the final exams are around and teach them a few practical lessons.

In the 85 girls high schools, including two higher secondary schools, only 40 schools have science labs. Of them, 33 labs are functional. The schools where labs are closed include 128-TDA, 164TDA, 90-ML, Choubra and Duratta.

Asmanyas251abslackfacilities,whilefive girls` schools have no science teachers. There are ways to make the labs functional without invoking powers at the higher level.

Education campaigner Niaz Shah Gilani says that the high school administration has certain funds on their disposal such as a Rs1.5 million contingency grant and a non-salary budget, which is allocated to every school on enrollment basis. He said most of the time, these funds were lavishly spent on painting and decoration of offices and classrooms. Mr Gilani said such funds must be used to enhance the learning standards of the students.

He said dummy school management committees and lack of action by parents were also the cause that the school funds were being used on less productive things.

Chief Executive Officer of District Education Authority Khalida Shaheen admitted the poor condition of science labs. She added she had ordered the compilation of data on labs and the department would provide facilities to labs. FAREEDULLAHCHAUDHRY