GHALANAI: Despite tall claims of the government to have taken measures for promotion of education in the tribal region, the authorities have failed to allocate proper funds for providing basic facilities in the Mohmand Agency schools.

Like most schools, the boys middle school in Halki Gandao area of Ekkaghund tehsil also lacks teaching staff, furniture, boundary wall and other facilities, due to which students are suffering.

The middle school was built in 2008, but DM, PST and PET teachers have yet to be appointed to it. As the area also lacks a high school for boys, majority of students quit pursuing education after passing middle school, Adam Khan, a local elder, said.

Another resident said it was the only school for a population of 10,000 in Halki Gandao, adding the school also lacked drinking water, electricity and bathrooms.

Murtaza Kahn, a teacher, said the students were coming from far flung areas on foot due to non-availability of transport facility, while the government had banned bike riding on the main road.

“We have 150 students at the primary level and the present building is not enough for the strength. Therefore, we need additional rooms to accommodate the students,” said the teacher.

He said the students had yet to get free textbooks announced by the government, adding playing games was vital for good health but there was no playground in the school.

This correspondent observed during a visit to the school that students were sitting on torn mats in classrooms as the authorities didn’t provide desks and chairs to them and even the teachers.

The students complained about consuming contaminated water in absence of a water-cooler.

Gul Shah, a grade VI student, told this scribe that he had to walk a distance of four kilometres to reach the school, adding they were forced to drink water from buckets and open tanks.

Another teacher said he daily walked nine kilometers distance to reach the school as the government had banned motorcycle biking in the area.

Elders and the staff said the school administration had sent countless reminders and requests to the Fata education department to resolve the problems, but to no avail.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2017