April 23, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 16, 1429

KOHAT, April 22: The district administration has so far failed to reopen several girls’ schools which were closed last year after receiving threats from Taliban.

All girl students from Frontier Region of Darra Adamkhel are taking examination of secondary school certificate in Kohat because the staff has refused to conduct examination there after a number of schools were destroyed by Taliban, sources say.

The district coordination officer had been so far unable in his efforts to reopen the closed schools and restore the confidence of female staff in the government's writ.

The Taliban had been targeting girls’ schools for the last many years besides threatening their staff by telephone. Incidents of terrorist activities and threats by Taliban compelled the female staff of such schools to abandon their duties.

Several middle and high schools for girls are still closed in Nari Banda, Shakardarra, Afridi Banda, Kamal Khel, Cheechana Banda and Baa areas of the district. Apart from that there are several schools where both male and female staff do not want to perform duty due to absence of basic facilities like accommodation, drinking water, electricity and conveyance.