By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Poor students at the Working Folks School in Dera Town for Boys have reportedly been struck off from classes on minor pretexts and coerced into paying heavy fines for re‑admission, raising concerns among parents about the conduct of the school principal.
According to complaints submitted by students and families, after recent exams, First Year and Second Year pupils who were out of uniform and spending time near the school grounds were expelled by the principal. Each student was fined Rs1,000 before being allowed to return to class the following day.
Affected families, many of whom are mill workers, said the repeated fines are creating severe financial pressure. Parents and students have appealed to the Workers Welfare Board and the Assistant Commissioner of Dera Ismail Khan to intervene, describing the principal’s actions as harassment that is causing significant stress among students.
Efforts to contact the principal for comment were unsuccessful, as he was reportedly on leave. Students and their parents warned that in an era of rising inflation, the ongoing imposition of arbitrary fines is unsustainable and urged authorities to take immediate corrective action.
