21 April 2005	Thursday	11 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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HARIPUR, April 20: A number of public sector girls’ schools in Haripur district lack basic amenities like electricity, potable water, furniture and teaching staff belying the claim of provincial government that due attention was being given to the education sector. Dawn observed this during a visit to three most neglected union councils of Khanpur area.

Educational institutions in remote areas are running short of lab equipment, furniture and even power connection. In Barkot, this correspondent noticed that the Government Girls’ Middle School Hilly, the only in the area established some three decades back, has only three class rooms which were in dilapidated condition and were without electricity, water and even lavatories.

The students told Dawn that they and their female teaching staff had to seek alternative means to respond to nature’s call. Latrines were part of the main building when it was built but due to lack of proper maintenance their roofs caved in and now they are being used as junk stores. The school has only three teachers who are non-resident of the locality hence use the school for residential purpose as well.

The government girl’s high school Chajian girls of above middle level are forced to attend classes at the Government High School for boys.

According to the area people the school was established in 1938 and was upgraded to higher level in 1981 but lab equipment were not provided to cater the needs of the students. Besides there is also a girl’s middle school which was upgraded to middle level last year but it was also running short of staff.

In Barkot the only GHS for boys Hilly has been without a science teacher since 1990 and without headmaster for the last two years. The school, which has strength of 289 students, has no electricity, potable water and lavatories.

The area of Neela Bhoto, which has a common border with Capital City of Islamabad and has a population of over 12000 residents, has no girl’s middle school. While the Government Boys Primary Schools in villages of Maira Khilairy and Blagh are being run in private buildings. People hold lack of educational facilities responsible for low rate of literacy in these areas.