Even with two primary schools in Taxila receiving threats, authorities have been unable to make adequate security arrangements at 36 girls’ primary schools to protect the lives of 6832 students.

Since the attack on a school in Peshawar, in which 140 students and children lost were killed, the Punjab government issued a new Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for school security.

Under the SoP, schools are required to have eight feet high walls with two feet of razor wire on top. They were also required to install Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, walkthrough gates and deploy armed guards.

Most of these schools which are located in sensitive areas of Taxila and Wah are run by the Punjab education department. A survey by Dawn revealed that out of these 36 schools, only 11 have boundary walls above 8 feet. Not a single school has razor wire installed above the boundary walls.

Similarly, not a single school is equipped with a security barrier, walkthrough gates or CCTV cameras. Security guards have been deployed at only18 out of 36 schools.

The Government Girls Primary School Dhoke Zaindi, where an unknown person writes threatening messages on blackboards has a boundary wall below eight feet and no other security arrangement.

Schools were closed by the government following the Peshawar school attack and opening them was made conditional upon the completion of adequate security arrangements.

Deputy District Education Officer Rubina Rauf said that the district administration and district education department has been informed about missing security facilities especially boundary walls and armed guards.

She said that once the required funds are released, the arrangements can be made.

She said that currently some tehsil staff members have been performing security duties at sensitive schools so that students and staff can feel safe.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2015

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