TIMERGARA: The residents of Charam Aab village in the Sultankhel union council here have demanded of the elementary and secondary education department to upgrade the local ‘maktab’ school as primary school and provide its students with all basic facilities.

The villagers told reporters during a visit to the school on Wednesday that 130 students both boys and girls has only one teacher for several years.

They said six classes were held in the two-room school building, which was dilapidated, while students were told to go home when it rained.

Complain school has one teacher, two rooms, dilapidated building

The villagers said the school didn’t have washrooms, electric supply and drinking water facility.

They said the school’s condition belied the government’s claim of declaring educational emergency in the province. The villagers said they had contacted local lawmakers and educational authorities many times for ensuring facilities in the school, but to no avail.

They said the school’s building was put up by the residents on their own before it was handed over to the education department.

The villagers said they wanted to educate their children and demanded of the government to upgrade the maktab school at lease as a government primary school and post four more teachers to it in line with the rationalisation policy of the government.

They said they would agitate if the government didn’t address their grievances without delay.

An official of the Lower Dir education department told Dawn that the Charam Aab maktab school had been included in the list of schools to be upgraded soon.

He said the shortage of teachers and unavailability of other facilities in the school would also been addressed on a priority bases.

MEDICAL CAMP:The 183 Wing of the Dir Scouts on Thursday set up a free medical camp in Wali Oba village in Jandol area.

Over 400 people, including men, women and children, were provided checkup and medicines in the camp.

Commandant of the Dir Task Force Colonel Shehzad Amir along with 183 Wing operation commander Lt-Colonel Shahid and Lt-Colonel Hamaish visited different units of the camp and expressed satisfaction with the arrangements.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2019