February 9, 2006	Thursday	Muharram 10, 1427

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SWABI, Feb 8: Teachers have complained that most schools in the district lack basic facilities but the education department and elected representatives have taken no steps to improve the situation.

Talking to Dawn on Wednesday, some of the teachers said: “Making pledges do no good to change ground realities. For promoting education, we need urgent practical measures. Without facilities how is it possible to achieve the desired results?” asks a principal.

There are only 15 teachers, including the headmistress, for 1,200 students at Government Girls High School Maneri

Bala. There are 18 classes but only 10 rooms, forcing the students to take their classes on a veranda.

There are no desks in any of the classes and students sit on the floor. Each student has to bring her own mat to sit on.

The same situation prevails in Maneri Payyan High School for Boys where classes are overcrowded. However, teachers said a new building was under construction on its premises.

The area MPA, Dr Salim, said that the lack of facilities in schools in his constituency was one of the reasons that had forced him to part ways with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government.

In Kernel Sher Kili, a boys school was shifted last year to be the premises of the girls school. The building is now short of classrooms, and students are attending classes in veranda.

Even in the Government High School Swabi, established in the British era, there is no furniture for students who sit on the floor.

Other schools where more students are enrolled than their capacity are: Zaida Secondary School, Yar Husian High School, and schools in Topi, Zarobi, Kalabat, Salim Khan, Kota, Chota Lahor, Tordher, Taraki, Turlandi, Shewa, Tandkohi, Murghuz, Jehangira, etc.

A teacher said that in such circumstances the result will understandably be below the expectation but the dilemma is that only teachers will be blamed for the failure.

During a visit to various schools, it was noted that most of washrooms were not working and there were no watchmen and peons.