GHALANAI: Despite the tall claims of government, the education department is yet to take steps for promotion of education in Mohmand tribal district, according to local people and educationists.

They said that authorities failed to allocate sufficient funds for development of infrastructures in Pandiali tehsil of Mohmand tribal district.

They said that primary schools in Lachi Khadikhel, Danish Kool, Gardai, Grang, Shahbaz Kor and Brang Gola were without boundary wall and furniture besides lacking other basic facilities.

The local people said that lack of facilities including drinking water, electricity, washrooms, whiteboards, furniture and shortage of staff at the primary school in Gardai created numerous problems for the students.

“There are about 12 schools for boys and girls in the area. All the schools have no boundary wall and others basic facilities,” said Hairan Momand, a local journalist.

He said that teachers at many schools were not performing duty. He added that fake data was provided to the officials.

Mr Momand said that officials of education department should separate administration and teaching cadres to improve the situation.

A primary schoolteacher told this scribe that most important issue was lack of washrooms as it directly affected the students and environment of the educational institutions.

“There are no proper latrines and washrooms for the girl students and teachers in the school,” said the teacher.

When asked as to why parent teacher councils were not formed and parents day functions were not held in the schools in the area, a teacher said that some non-governmental organisations were holding speech competitions and others functions.

“The shortage of facilities has badly affected the environment of our schools,” said another teacher.

An official of education department, when contacted, said that the department forwarded a letter to the local administration, director education of the tribal districts and donor agencies to facilitate the authorities in providing basic facilities to the schools like boundary wall and additional rooms but they were still waiting for their response.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2019