KHAR: Majority of government schools and colleges formally reopened in Bajaur Agency on Monday after a gap of one and a half months.

However, several educational institutions continue to be closed with their teachers absenting themselves from duty.

All government and private schools and colleges in the agency were closed in June for security reasons.

Officials of the education department claimed most government schools and colleges across the agency reopened in the day, while majority of the maximum number of teachers and students showed up there.

“The reopening of the maximum number of schools and colleges and presence of a large number of students and teachers there on a short notice is a great achievement and a matter of encouragement for the education department. We didn’t expect such a response from students and teachers,” an official said.

Some residents of Mamond, Salarzai, Chamarkand, Barang and Nawagai claimed most schools in their tehsils remained closed in the day.

Among such schools were both for girls and boys, social worker Ahmad Khan. He also complained about absence of teachers from schools.

Sibghatullah Khan, a student of Governor Model School, Khar, said he went to the school but attended only one class until the school hours were over due to absence of teachers.

Most of students and teachers from remote areas complained the education department didn’t inform them about the opening of schools on time.

“We didn’t get any information from the education department about the opening of schools until Monday afternoon and therefore, most schools in our area remained closed,” said Tahir Khan, a teacher of the Government Primary School, Barang.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2014