ABBOTTABAD, Nov 11: Life of more than 50,000 students and teachers of government schools has been put on risk as classes have been started in damaged school buildings. Besides, not a single tent has been provided to these schools in the five districts of the NWFP, with the exception of 10.

More than 12,000 students and around 500 teachers and other staff have been killed in the earthquake and at least 9,100 schools have either collapsed or have been partially damaged and thus declared unsafe. Chances are that these schools may collapse in case of more aftershocks or another earthquake.

It should be noted that all the schools and colleges in the NWFP were closed down by the government of the NWFP after the Oct 8 earthquake. Classes were started in other parts of the NWFP after ten days, while this period was extended to 9th November for earthquake-affected areas and these were supposed to be carried out of alternative arrangements by the government of the NWFP. All schools and colleges were re-opened by the provincial education department on Friday.

Education officials requesting anonymity said that except temporary arrangements at the Balakot High School and tents provided for the Ghari Habibullah Girls and Boys School, not a single tent had been provided for the 1,100 schools which had been completely damaged in Mansehra district.

The demand for 5,000 tents was made by officials in Mansehra. However, it failed to evoke any response from the authorities concerned. Now classes are being run on the debris of damaged schools while students are reluctant to go inside their classrooms due to fear.

Officials showing helplessness in the present situation said that complete data was provided to the respective quarters from day one but nothing has been done in practical.

In Abbottabad district, the situation is the same where a total of 19 students died with the death of two teachers while more than 70 were injured.

At least 57 schools are completely damaged in the district while 652 schools are partly damaged out of which 502 are primary schools. Education department officials remarked that we are knocking the doors of the officials concerned but till date nothing has been done and no supplementary grant has been provided to remove the debris of the damaged portion of buildings so alternative arrangements can be made.

On the 2nd day of the re-opening of schools, the turnout was low as parents are reluctant to send their kids to damaged schools.

The teachers took their classes in the rain with trees offering the only shelter.

Battagram and Kohistan education officials have also confirmed the poor attention shown to schools and colleges by the authorities concerned and said that all other government offices which were badly damaged have been provided temporary arrangements and made functional but the education sector has been totally neglected.

The irony is that education officials have asked all private schools and colleges to get a fitness certificate before opening schools and colleges. A committee at Abbottabad has granted a No Objection Certificate to at least 22 private schools after inspection while a few were not allowed to function. However, the same rule does not apply where government schools and colleges are concerned.