SWABI, Nov 7: All government-run educational institutions in Swabi district will re-open on Tuesday, education department officials said on Monday.
They said that although the provincial education minister had announced the decision during Eid holidays it could not be conveyed to heads and staff of all educational institutions.
These institutions were shut down in the wake of the continued aftershocks in the region.
However, sources said, the education minister was convinced that school buildings were safe and should be reopened immediately.
In a number of localities, sources said, announcements were made on loudspeakers on Sunday evening informing students and teachers about the government’s decision. However, not all areas could be covered, they said.
Reports from different areas said that a number of schools were closed on Monday and those that functioned opened late as neither the staff nor the students received word in advance about the minister’s decision. The overall attendance was poor.
RELIEF DEMANDED: The government must take prompt action to ensure early rehabilitation of survivors in the quake-hit regions because winter has already started there and the beginning of snowfall would bring more miseries to the victims.
This was stated by members of NGOs who went to the devastated Balakot to celebrate Eid with survivors.
The NGO teams had also taken medicines, tents and other relief items to Balakot.
They said that the previous two trips to the affected areas enabled them to know what the people exactly needed there.
They said some mountain peaks had already received snow and there was very short time with both the government and NGOs to provide succour to the survivors.
Answering a question, they said that presently the survivors baldy needed shelter to protect them from the approaching harsh winter.