Parents, civil society delegation discuss Langlands school issue with DC Chitral
CHITRAL, June 17: A delegation of parents, political figures and civil society members, led by Professor (Retd) Syed Taufeeq Jan, called upon the Deputy Commissioner Chitral today at DC Office Chitral.
The delegation included Advocate Abdul Wali, Abdul Latif PTI, Riaz Ahmad Diwanbegi, Shahzada Amir Hasanat Uddin, Dr Noor Ul Islam, Dr Gulzar Ahmad, Muhammad Idrees Khan, Masood Anwar, Shah Fahad Ali Khan, Shahid Azam, Zahoor Ul Haq Danish, Muhsin Ul Mulk Siddiqi, Abdul Nasir, Wali Muhammad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Sultan Dawood.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the current tug-of-war situation over the school management, and to seek information regarding the sweeping orders issued by GD Langlands, the former principal of the school. It is worth mentioning here that a couple of days back GD Langlands, claiming to be ‘the owner and founder’ of the school, issued as much as five orders to the effect of terminating the services of Miss Carey Schofield as Principal; taking over the charge of the Principal and Patron in Chief himself with immediate effect; reconstituting the Board of Governors, chaired by himself with DC Chitral as co-chairman; restoring the services of the teachers terminated by Miss Carey Schofield; posting Mr. Abdullah as Acting Principal as a ‘stop gap arrangement till the arrival of the incumbent Principal’; and requesting the Manager of Bank Alfalah Chitral Branch to entertain cheques signed by Deputy Commissioner Chitral and the Acting Principal jointly. These sweeping steps had created a situation of uncertainty about the future of the school, and led to numerous conspiracy theories in the public.
The delegation, in the meeting, expressed strong concerns over the current situation and voiced their frustration and worries, as the future of the institute was at stake. They strongly acclaimed Miss Carey Schofield’s contributions to put the institute on the streamline and to bring marked improvement in education, administration and discipline. They were of the view that removing the current principal and her setup means to leave the school in the middle of nowhere.
They highly commended GD Langlands’ decades-long services to Chitral, but held that he should have no authority whatsoever to take dictator-like decisions about the school and its governing body, which is tantamount to spoiling the smooth running of the institute.
Addressing the delegation, Mr. Amin ul Haq, the DC Chitral, said that the sweeping orders issued by GD Langlands hold no water at all and they are devoid of legal cover, unless they are so approved by the Chief Secretary KP government by an official letter. He said that since the establishment of the school in 1988 its property assets are in the name of the Deputy Commissioner Chitral, and so GD Langlands is never justified in his claims to be its ‘founder and owner.’ He also told the delegation that in his report to the Chief Secretary KP government he has rejected Mr Langlands’ claims to that effect, and has acknowledged the contributions of Miss Carey Schofield regarding improvement in education, management and discipline.
The meeting concluded on the following points and few joint suggestions:
·The orders issued by Mr. Langlands hold no legal status, unless they are approved by the Chief Secretary through an official letter.
·The current setup of the Langlands School and College led by Miss Carry Schofield is in place, till the Board of Governors resolves the issue and notifies accordingly.
·Board of Governors should be reconstituted, which should be chaired by the DC Chitral, with DPO, Commandant Chitral Scouts, Accounts Officer, notables, educationists and civil society members from Chitral as its members. As it is neither feasible nor rational for officers or individuals outside the district to govern the institute. The original name of the school—Sayurj School and College—should be restored.–Zahoor ul Haq Danish
@ Fida
Agreed with your point that parents of students who are studying in Beaconhouse and Roots school are in favour of Miss Carey. And the reason behind their support is that they want to establish a similar kind of institution in Chitral. Only then they will bring their children to Chitral. Ultimately we need Miss Carey for that, neither an Army man nor anyone else.
Chitral ka purana aur maroof talimi idara Langlands School and College mukhtalif shar pasand aur mafad parast anasir ki gandi siyasat ki wajah sy tabahi k dihany py kharra hae. Mustaqbil k maamaroon ka mustaqbil khatry mae nazar aaraha hae. Miss Carey Schofield ki sakht aur tassub sy bharpoor rawayye ny is bawaqar idary ko barbadi ki raah tk lany k liay koi kasar nae chorri. Aik sochy samjy mansoby k teht Muhsin e Chitral aur azeem educationists G.D Langlands ki shakhsiat ko mutanaziia banaia gaia hae. Mukhtalif anasir aur ashrafia is madar e ilmi py qabiz hony k liye pr torr rehy haen. But hakomat e waqt khamosh tamashayi ka kirdar ada kr rehi hae. Es sazish mae woh loog sab sy agy haen, jin k apny bachy aur nawasy nawasian ‘Beaconhouse’ or Roots Schooloon waghaira mae parrty haen. Lekin woh hazarat yahan dosry logoon k bachoon ki mustaqbil ki fikr mae magan apny makrooh chal chala rehy haen. Waqat ka Taqaza yehi hae k Dr.Inayatullah Faizi sab k mashwary per amal kr k School ko army k hawaly kr k ‘Cadet College’ ki taraz per chalaya jaye. Esi mae Qaoum k bachoon ki mafad hae.
Sir Langlands is the only person who can even make third umpire raise his finger but never even scolded a class IV employee during his entire 70 years dedicated career. When Carey started destroying the empire he built in two decades, no matter how corrupt it turned out to be due to his lenient behavior & fatherly figure attitude, how could he have taken a blind eye to it. Something had to be done as Carey was terminating all senior staff & helpless class IV employees, which sir Langlands respected more than teaching staff, at whim, just like musical chair game. The staff took Carey to court, so she announced manyfold increase in existing staff salaries, as a bait, so that they would support her in court, because she knew her case was crystal clear weak but to her surprise, sir Langlands emerged on the scene to nail the vampire inside her own coffin.
I guess, she didn’t act like an educationist and a professional when she sacked some the teachers without showing any plausible reasons. At least, she should have given them a level playing field to show their worth. Terminating experienced teachers like that tantamount to insulting the whole teaching community and the very edifice of the The Langlands School and College. If she had reservations about the teaching methodologies of the terminated teachers then she could have arranged training for them as she is believed to be “a good administrator.”
Even if that was not possible for her then she could have separated the wheat from the chaff by arranging some kind of test for the old staff by re-advertising all of the teaching positions. She could have done it in a professional manner as she heads an educational institution not a private company. I believe, she never cared to follow the standard set of procedures for hiring and firing of teachers. Moreover, she raised the salaries of the newly appointed staff members to an exorbitant level. The said posts were never advertised and appointments were made in a haphazard manner. They are receiving handsome salaries as compared to Govt. Employees. They didn’t appear in any kind of screening test; demonstrations were never conducted and proper selection board was never arranged for the selection of suitable candidates. Then, how can you say that she had put the school on a right track??
Many of her actions are commendable and maybe she is sincere in uplifting the educational standard of The Langlands school and College but the way she mishandled some of the affairs of the college are lamentable. She could have consulted the renowned educationist of the area for advice and suggestions.
It is painful to see that Mr. Langlands personality is being maligned and he is labelled with so many negative attributes for his actions. When he was at the helm of affairs, no one offered him any sort of help instead he was pushed to the wall time and again. And now the so called “civil society members” are proclaiming themselves as the saviours. None of the members of the delegations ever spent a single penny for the promotion of education in Chitral. All of them are busy in safeguarding their own ulterior motives and when it comes to walk the talk, they are always on the backtrack. So, how can they be trusted? Do they know better than Mr. G.D. Langlands?? The demand of changing back the school’s name to the old one is utterly disgusting and abominable. That demand should never have been made. If you can’t appreciate his services, at least show some respect to him by retaining his name.
After going through the piece of writing and comments by some gentleman, I was taken aback by the fabrication and twist of the events. Fie upon you people! Who declare themselves the so called civil society and parents. The people who have penned down the above lines in the favour of a Jew Principal are basically pro-Jew lobby that have virtually hijacked the Langlands school and college. These people have spared no effort in spitting venom against the school in order to meet their own ends. Mr. Captain Siraj turned the school into tourist lodge to serve his own hotel. Mr. Zahoor! Brother has been deployed as a teacher by the lady. So, don’t play with the future of many students for petty gains. Same is the case with many who dropped a few lines above in favour of the lady. Please! Stop this nonsense. You can’t throw dust in the eyes of general public. Now people are aware of your underhand motives.
For all at Chitral Today, plummeting to these insane allegations about Carey Schofield is a disgrace. Here is a woman who came to Chitral with the sole intention of trying to help local children. Since then she has described Chitralis as gentle, tolerant and civilised. To read that someone among you is calling her ‘Jew Principle’ is disgusting. She is an austere and pious Catholic lady and a descendant of English Saints. You should be ashamed for this damning attack. May God forgive you!
Hey nonsense man! Who have got me inducted as a teacher at Langlands’ School? If you don’t know me, don’t comment and criticize gordogh-like! Do you have guts to stand by your nonsense blames and prove them if Siraj Ulmulk and I sue you in the court?? Do you think there is no law in the land to safeguard an individual’s self esteem and self respect. Agar kuch hazam karne kay gutts hain tab baat karo okay. It is only the spirit of Chitraliness that we forego and forgive such such assaults on self esteem. Otherwise we better know how to teach lessons to people like you by the law of the land.
Neither I was a student nor associated with G.D Langlands School, but I can straightaway say that Chitralis should atleast go through the services rendered by Major Langlands for decades. Where Chitral was before him and where it is now?
In return of his great services what he deserved and what we gave him, a name of just an “old aged man”.This seems extremely unfair to me.
Personal interests and political or economical greed of our own people put us to this situation, shame on you really shame on you.You are saying that we served for decades and in return got kicking out from school. May be that was your position and based on your performance.Now when Ms. Carey had put the school to a good tract what happened we don’t know.
It is not time to put lame arguments here, sorry. We request all our social workers, educationists, leaders, philanthropists and Board of Directors to go through the problem thoroughly and not to disturb Langlands or not to mislead him.
Expecting for best and quick sorting out of the big challenge.
We, the parents and students request to the Board of Directors to pass a resolution and send to the British High Commission to clear visa of Ms. Carey. Further, directors are requested to come to media and clear the confusion. Moreover, we know Mr. Abdullah and others very well.
One bus engine was repaired 5 times in a year and still it is out of order. How can Mr. Abdullah and team say they can run a school. They can run a shop without customers. I am feeling shame being an ex-student and now parent of the student. The teaching methodology of Mr. Taighoon and Mr. Abdullah is very clear to us and we are not satisfy. The students were complained to Ms. Carey regarding lectures of non performer teachers. Now Board of Directors are requested to pass resolution and come to media to clarify the situation.
A thousand Carey Schofields and company won’t match a single Sir Major Geoffrey Douglous Langlands. Every one involved in this tug of war is pursuing personal interests, nothing else except Sir GDL. So crush them all with your Military boots sir and let them (the elite mafia) whine afterwards. They wont even be able to pull off a hair of your head. Sir Langlands is a living legend while Carey Schofield for me is a capitalist money sucker. Pardon if any Carey sympathiser is carried away by these remarks.
Muhammad Abid
Student/Admirer of Sir GD Langlands
I would rather say it is G.D Langlands who himself made the school controversial by bowing to the pressure of a mafia. If he was so sure why he did not appoint a Chitrali as head of the school. He knew that appointing any Chitrali as head of the school will be the first step to turn it into a ghost school.
Strongly request to the Board of Directors of the School to change the name of the School and College as Sayurj instead to The Langland.
Local Principal never get funds for the welfare of School and College, never get aid. To generate fund is not an easy job
Personalities like Shahzada Siraj Ulmulk should always play their due role in safeguarding the interests of Chitral from outsiders. This is their obligation as sons of soil.
Best regards
Muntazir Khan
Booni
Madam Carey, the principal of the Langlands School and College Chitral:
Madam Carey was playing an important role to promote education in Chitral. For about 2 years her performances are praised by every one in Chitral. But there are some jealous and planned people who do not like her performances because these people dislike the promotion of education in Chitral. They are talking against Ma’am Carey because she takes her every decision based on merit. I think to promote education in Chitral all our leader should take action. And they should invite Ma’am Carey back to Chitral for the betterment of their future generation and to give better educational environment to the Chitrali nation.
I also insist on the provincial government to hold a thorough inquiry into this affair from the very begining. Isn’t it true that Miss Schofield abnormally raised the salaries of some of the teachers and dismissed some with a single stroke of pen without any obvious reason?
Isn’t it true that some so-called parents and civil society activists made millions by misleading her?
Uske pass woh konsi jadoo ki chari thi k usne aik saal ma woh kar dikhaya jo Mr. Langland 30 ma nahe kar sakay?
Carey ne ap sab ko woh konsi jadoo ki jappi di hai k Mr. Langland ko old age ka tanna daite howay ap log zara nahe jijkay?
Kya kuch saal pehle issi budhe k aage peeche ap log hi nazar nahe aatay the?
Ibn-waqt ho sab k sab ya charte soraj k pojari?
Wese khoshi ki baat yeh hai k Chitrali awam ap sab ko khob achi tarah jaan chuki hai, aur yeh bekar ma wawela macha rakha hai ap logon ne…
Listen! Carey is past and let the past be past.
Major Langlands is an aged person, he probably made this silly decision while sleeping and is not even aware of what he did. We respect him, but this particular decision by him to dismiss Carey Schoeffield as principal shows that he is not in a stable mental condition. People at his age can be easily deceived by anyone. I appreciate the effort by civil society of Chitral who finally came out in support of Ms. Carey.
We should be thankful to her for putting the school back on track and enhancing the quality of education.
Every one who met Maj Langlands in Chitral on 13 June could easily see that old age had made him senile. Anyone could make him do anything they wanted. People like Abdullah would have no problem making him sign anything. What they did to him and to Chitral is sinful. But the part played by DC Chitral should also be condemned. He gave official patronage to these illegal “notifications” by coming to the school with police to make the announcement that Carey had been dismissed, the Board had been dismissed and Abdullah and Co had been reinstated. I was present at Langlands school when he announced this. The reason he gave was ” oopar say order Aya hay”. Even if the DC is now retracting his part in this we in Chitral must insist on the Provincial Govt to hold a thorough inquiry into this incident. How come that it has become so easy to play with the interests of the people of an entire district by just one ” oopar say aya” phone call. I congratulate all the parents of the children of Langlands school Chitral who went to the DC’s office yesterday to say ” enough is enough” of this most ridiculous episode. Thank you also Professor Taufiq Jan for providing the leadership to remind us that there is still a spark left in us Chitralies to stand up for our rights.
Siraj Ulmulk
The way the school was hijacked last week is hard to believe in today’s times. Thank God better sense prevailed and the majority were able to look through what was happening. Uncle Siraj, your own efforts in providing stability and anchor when chaos broke out are commendable. We will be welcoming Carey back in Chitral soon!
Respected Shahzada Siraj ul Mulk, perfectly agree with your comment.
we ” The Langlands Students” would never let this happen. As we know our school and its management the most. Alas !! Did’nt expected this from Sir Abdullah. To all those people craming Sir langlands name I want to say only one thing: when are we saying he is bad or he did wrong? we all respect him for what he has done but for heaven sake why cant you people see his age?? he barely can undefeated things and recingnise people. I agree to Siraj mike and what he suggests as He knows better as he has been there for so many years. at any case #wewantmisscareyback
We, the Langlands Students, would never let this happen. As we know our school and its management the most. Alas! Didn’t expected this from Sir Abdullah. To all those people cramming Sir Langlands name I want to say only one thing: when are we saying he is bad or he did wrong? We all respect him for what he has done but for heaven sake why cant you people see his age? He barely can understand things and recognize people. I agree to Siraj Miki and what he suggests as he knows better as he has been there for so many years. At any case #wewantmisscareyback
Can someone tell me that the degrees of sir Abdullah, Sir Essa, Sir Rahmatullah, Sir Mahbob etc are fake and they can not teach well, if it is true, then how a great number of their students have been able to go to the top ranked universities of Pakistan like KMC, UET etc. Is it fair to use these teachers like a tissue paper ? Most of these teachers have taught for more than 2 decades for so little salary, so how can we neglect their services, interest and hard work? I think it’s not justice and fair to these great keepers of knowledge whatsoever.
Great work!
Thank God better sense in prevailing. No one should be allowed to take things in their hand like a Dictator. This school means a lot to the people of Chitral and no Abdullah will be allowed to highjack or mislead an old man.
His contribution no one doubts but Langland having served in harsh tribal areas has picked up a stubborn habit of not budging. Each one has a part to play and all of us are replaceable. At the moment Ms Carey Schofield is the person for the job and she is doing absolutely great. We are thankful to her to come out and work in this wilderness when no one dares to venture out here.
I approve of changing the name of the school to it’s original name i.e. “Sayurj school’. An auditorium could be named after Mr Langlands which should be fair enough.