December 10, 2007	Monday	Ziqa'ad 29, 1428

MIRAMSHAH, Dec 9: The closure of in a number of educational institutions in the troubled South Waziristan Agency owing to the prevailing law and order situation has put the future of hundreds of tribal students at stake.

Political authorities closed three semi-government English-medium schools in Miramshah and Razmak sub-divisions about seven months ago.

The Cadet College in Razmak, where students from the entire tribal region take admissions because of its good quality education, has been closed till March 2008.

Informed sources told Dawn that three semi-government English-medium schools — Al Azhar Model School, the Army Public School and Toochi Public School — were closed early this year, but the management of these educational institutions was still charging Rs300 to Rs500 as monthly tuition fee from the students.

The political administration opened public sector schools and colleges in the agency about a month ago.

Because of uncertain conditions in the area many parents have sent their children to settled areas of the province and got them enrolled in schools there to continue education of their children.

Parents and their children recently met political authorities in Miramshah and requested them to open educational institutions in the agency to save future of the students, but the authorities have refused to accept their demand, citing disturbed law and order situation.

The affected students have appealed to President Pervez Musharraf and NWFP Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai Governor to direct the authorities concerned to open all educational institutions in the tribal agency.