KOHAT: Two primary schools in Ustarzai area have been without basic facilities, including electricity, water and furniture, since their establishment 25 years ago due to which dropout rate among students is increasing.

These schools are also facing shortage of staff and despite having enough space, no additional room has been added to the buildings.

Local people accused the former provincial minister Syed Qalbe Hassan of not even visiting the schools during his ten years in the government.

The Spinai Kachai government primary school was constructed in 1986 and parents were persuaded through awareness campaign to admit their children to the school. However, dozens of children have left school due to non-availability of water, electricity, latrines and teachers.

The school watchman said that he had to fetch water from a distant area on donkeys and sometimes on pickup. He said every student was bound by the school administration to bring a bottle of water with him especially during summer season.

Similar is the case with the nearby government primary school, Kam Sam Kachai, which was constructed in 1989 on a two kanal of land. The students here are also leaving education due to criminal negligence of the education department and local lawmakers.

Sources said that power supply was not given to the school building though a transformer had been installed nearby. They said that owing to absence of furniture students had to take classes while sitting on the ground.

The local elders appealed to the MPA Ziaullah Bangash, who is also the chairman of district development committee, to visit the schools and improve the facilities there so the future of the children could be secured.