MINGORA: There is not a single government school in more than 20 villages of Matta tehsil with a population of 20,000, complain local residents.

They insist their villages have just 15 educated men, all members of well-off families.

Among these villages located in the Peer Kaley union council are Jurra, Sanil Khan, Gul Dherai, Tafrun, Amlook Cheena, Jangar, Bela, Norrey, Ashar Banr, Spagai, Teeta, Serai, Nilawai, Jabbunr, Badragah, Tangai, Sarbat, Chauga, Tangtol, Kuza Qalagai and Bara Qalagai.

Qalagai village elder Mohammad Amin told Dawn on Monday that the village had no government school and therefore, the local residents didn’t have access to education.

Local residents fear uneducated youths will become outlaws

He said he realised the importance of education so he got his grandchildren enrolled in a village three kilometers from his but the children were exhausted after covering long distance daily.

Zeeshan, a local boy, said from 7,000 to 8,000 children in local villages had no access to formal education despite having an intense desire to study.

“Many of many friends want to get education but the nearest primary school is six kilometers away. I appeal to (ruling PTI’s chief) Imran Khan to ensure the construction of schools and playgrounds in the area.

The villagers said they’re very poor people and depended on their land for a livelihood through cultivation.

They said they’re unable to voluntarily offer land to the government for the construction of schools.

The villagers feared uneducated youths would become criminals.

“In the past, we saw many uneducated youths join the Taliban for regular payments. I fear our children if not educated will join anti-state or criminal groups for money,” said Neelam Chattan, a child rights activist working in Swat.

The District Parent Ittehad consisting of education department officials, politicians, journalists and civil society activists had convinced local landlords to donate land for the construction of four schools in the region.

The landlords claimed they’d donated land but the education department wasn’t interested in building schools on it.

When contacted, local tehsil councillor Najibullah Khan, who also belongs to a landlord’s family, said he donated land for school in Jurra village but the education department officials weren’t interested in using it for the school.

“I have donated land for the school but no official from the education department wants to come and meet me in this regard. It is the responsibility of the government to provide education, health and justice facilities to our people but bureaucracy does not bother to come out of their offices,” he said.

Local MPA Muhibullah Khan wasn’t available for comments despite repeated attempts.

However, his brother and district council member from the Peer Kaley union council, Habibullah Khan, told Dawn two schools had been approved for the area but they were relocated after local landlords refused to give land for them.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2016