Fourteen children died in a roof collapse at a tuition center in Lahore’s Kahna area on June 30, a tragedy that families and observers attribute to systemic poverty and a lack of government oversight. The incident, which left several other students and their teacher, Anila, injured, has prompted a debate over the safety of informal education in Pakistan’s impoverished neighborhoods, according to reports from Dawn.
Why the collapse occurred
The tuition center was located in a neighborhood characterized by hazardous, half-built structures, according to on-site observations. Residents told Dawn that the area lacks enforcement of building regulations, and many families build their homes incrementally as funds become available. Local accounts suggest that the specific street where the collapse occurred is part of a larger pattern of neglect, where construction often encroaches on public land, including sewage drains. Hassan, a local labourer whose five-year-old son, Arkam, died in the collapse, noted that there had been prior signs of danger, including a child previously injured by a falling tile. Despite warnings from a mason and students to dismiss the class, the teaching continued.
Government response and criticism
In the wake of the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz visited the site to offer condolences. Law enforcement has since detained the property owner and the contractor who built the structure, as confirmed by DIG Operations Faisal Kamran. Additionally, Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat announced a crackdown to shut down unregistered academies and schools, with district authorities now serving notices. However, critics argue this approach ignores the economic realities of the region. Kashif Adeeb Jawadani, president of the All Pakistan Private School Management Association, stated that these home-based tuition centers are a direct result of state economic failures and the absence of viable public education. He argued that the government should have provided a grace period, free registration and long-term financial support.
What happens next
The administration’s decision to shutter unregistered academies could lead to a significant gap in educational access for low-income families, according to industry observers. If the government proceeds with the crackdown without offering alternatives, children who rely on these home-based centers for basic schooling may be left without any educational options. Residents warn that the lack of municipal oversight and the prevalence of precarious construction could lead to further disasters in the future.