MINGORA: A jirga was held here in Bahrain valley on Friday to promote the cause of education in Swat-Kohistan region.

The event organised by Idara Baraye Taleem-o-Taraqi, a civil society organisation based in Bahrain area, with the support of NGO Alif Ailaan was attended by people from all walks of life, especially members of the district, tehsil, village and neighbourhood councils.

Tehsil nazim Habibullah Saqib was also in attendance.

The participants highlighted educational issues in the region, including poor access to education, especially of women, low quality of education, appointment of non-local residents to local schools, unavailability of teachers, inactive schools and high school dropout rate.

The nazim said Bahrain was among the least developed tehsils in the country.

He said the tehsil government was striving to address educational issues.

“The development of Swat-Kohistan can happen only if the region is declared hard area,” he said.

Chairman of the district standing committee for secondary and higher education Malik Fazal Rabi said people, especially parents, should ensure education of their children, especially daughters.

District councillor from Mankiyal union council Shah Mohammad Khan called for strict monitoring of schools.

“Parents should visit schools daily to examine the performance of teachers and students,” he said.

Prof Jehan Sher highlighted the importance of education, which, he said, was the single most effective tool to deal with extremism and terrorism.

Zubair Torwali suggested a consistent campaign be run for the development in education in the area.

He said he and his team would continue furthering the cause of education.

The participants unanimously demanded that Swat-Kohistan consisting of Bishigram, Bahrain, Mankiyal, Balakot, Kalam and Utror union councils be declared hard area to help address problems in education and other sectors.

Local MPA Syed Jaffar Shah addressed the event over the telephone and said four middle schools for girls, three higher secondary schools for boys, two higher secondary schools for girls and a dozen primary schools would be established in the region.

He asked the people to provide land for the establishment of a degree college in Bahrain.

Published in Dawn October 8th, 2016