Waking up in Karachi, the MQM protests were like unexpected gifts. The announcement of school closures turned my morning routine into a joyous surprise. Frequently when there was political unrest in the city, I would go to bed not knowing if I will go to school tomorrow. I would often gamble not completing my homework due the next day, knowing that if MQM decides to protest, schools will be the first to shut down.
It was so normal for The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to force closure of schools and commit civil disobedience as a show of power that the nuances of the political conflict shutting down schools were lost on me. It was not until recently with a more mature understanding, I realize the impact—how the joy of a break came at the cost of a disrupted education system. It's a stark reminder that sometimes, what seems like a simple day off is intertwined with deeper issues and the collateral damage it inflicts on our education.
The shutdown of schools wasn't just a brief respite; it disrupted the educational routine for countless children. It included loss of instructional time for students affect the continuity of lessons, curriculum coverage, and overall academic progress.
