“… being open with children is of supreme importance.
Children must be told why this is happening because they will have questions.
There are so many sources of information today that they cannot escape it. It must be dealt with and explained.”
– Dr Murad Moosa Khan, Professor of Psychiatry, Aga Khan University Hospital
Tackling implications of enhanced security on schoolchildren
By Atika Rehman. Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2015
KARACHI: Not far from the barricaded and irksome presence of Bilawal House, a less fortified school in the busy Clifton area has been hosting a series of storytelling sessions for three- to five-year-old children.
The central character is a schoolchild who asks innocent questions about the increasingly layered security net around him. “Aunty, what is happening outside my school? Why is this put here?” the child asks, pointing to a barricade. “Are you sad today?” the child is asked. “Why are you sad?” “Because there is a big gate outside my school,” he replies. “Why is it up?
This narration, conducted mostly in Urdu, was a means adopted by The Indus Academy Playschool to enable inquiring young minds to ask questions about the dark December morning when the most vulnerable members of society, schoolchildren, were made deliberate targets. The attack on Peshawar Army School left 131 children dead on Dec 16, last year.
“It is a pity that something as simple as going to school is becoming increasingly complicated.
… There is no explanation for a tragedy like this, but we are trying to lead our students to a point where they can ask a question.
If we are asked questions such as ‘was there a bomb attack?’ or ‘were children killed?’, we have to answer them.
The idea is to try to make our children understand and take away the ugliness and violence.”
– Mahnaz Jooma, Educationalist
Read the complete article at Dawn | Tackling implications of enhanced security on schoolchildren
Be the First to Know – Join Ismailimail
Get breaking news related to the Ismaili Imamat, the world wide Ismaili Muslim community and all their creativity, endeavors and successes.
Inspired? Share the story
Want to inspire? Send your stories to us at Ismailimail@gmail.com
Subscribe and join 20,000 + other individuals – Subscribe now!
Related from the Ismailimail Archives:
Ismailimail 