LAYYAH, Dec 18: Academic activities in over 70 per cent schools hit by the super flood in the district are yet to be fully revived, putting at stake the education of some 62,000 students enrolled in these institutions. According to initial official estimates, the devastating flood damaged 285 primary, middle and high schools (for both boys and girls) in 13 union councils of the district.

However, the figure was revised downward to 257 in a survey report jointly prepared by building and education departments, showing 32 completely destroy and 225 partially damaged schools, having 62,000 students enrolled in different classes.

Even in the schools which have started functioning, the conditions are far from being satisfactory.

During a visit to such a school, this scribe witnessed students taking classes while sitting on the dried up silt left behind by the floodwaters.

A schoolteacher, on condition of anonymity, said the students' attendance at the school had dropped to less than half of what it used to be before the calamity hit the area.

The girl students and teachers are among the worst-hit as the flood washed away the boundary walls of most of their schools and in an area having a predominantly conservative social setting it is considered improper for females to study or teach in the open.

Education EDO Abdul Wahid Aulakh maintained that 77 schools were being rehabilitated, of which 13 had been handed over to the education department. In the remaining schools, he claimed, the rehabilitation work was near completion. “We have submitted approved estimates of 180 schools to the education department for release of funds,” he added.

Former district nazim Shahabuddin Khan Sehar strongly criticised the Punjab government for what he called its slackness and criminal neglect resulting in its failure to revive the damaged schools.

He said the government's inefficiency in this regard had jeopardised the education prospects of thousands of boys and girls.

He demanded expedited rehabilitation of these institutions.