UPPER DIR: Although Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has declared ‘education emergency’ in the province, yet the authorities seem least bothered to improve situation of educational institutions in Nehag Dara area of Upper Dir.

The government schools, both for boys and girls, in Nehag Dara face shortage of almost all required facilities.

The students of a primary school for girls in Kandaro locality of Nehag Dara get education in a two-room building. There are only two teachers for over 150 students of six classes. The classrooms are in a dilapidated condition and the students of four classes have to sit under the open sky.

The students said that there was shortage of teachers in their school. The students of four classes sit idle when the teachers teach two classes in the school. 

The students said that they could not attend school during rain owing to shortage of classrooms.

The headmistress of the school said that they faced burden of work as there were only two teachers for six classes. She said that they could not complete courses of all the classes in an academic year. She added that they did try their best but it was impossible to teach to six classes at a time.

Students and teachers complain of shortage of required facilities in the area schools

“There are no sitting arrangements for students of six classes in the two rooms during rain as well as snowfall. So, students of two or three classes are sent home,” the teacher said. She added that teachers and students could not use the washroom as there was no arrangement for provision of water to the school.

For the girl students of more than 30 villages of three union councils in Nehag Dara, there is a single middle and one high school. The girl students have to walk for hours on dangerous mountainous routs to reach the school.

Wali Mohammad, a resident of Jaagam, said that students from Karbadi, Bandai, Kandaro, Karpat, Nahag and other areas had to cover a distance of 12 to 16 kilometres on foot to reach their school.

Zainab, a student of 7th grade, said that she reached the school after walking for almost two and a half hours from her home. She said that it was difficult for her to learn her lessons properly after covering such a long distance on foot as she was tired.

“Some time I sleep during the class due to tiredness, however, my teachers understand my problems,” said Zainab. She added that she wanted to get higher education but it was difficult in the present circumstances.

Another student said that provincial government had declared ‘education emergency’ in the province but situation of educational institutions in Nehag Dara was worsening instead of getting improved.

Anwarzeb, a local leader of the ruling PTI, said that most of the parents were poor and could not afford to hire vehicles to pick and drop their daughters.

The local elders demanded of the government to appoint sufficient number of teachers in the existing schools and establish new schools in Nehag Dara to secure future of their children.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play