LOWER DIR: The owners and teachers of more than 60 private schools held a demonstration in Chakdara on Thursday to demand immediate reopening of the educational institutions.

The demonstration was organised by Private Education Network (PEN), a network of private schools and colleges in the province. PEN provincial leader Amjad Ali, district president Abdul Wadood, Rehman Yousaf and others addressed the protesters.

They said that tourist spots, public transport and markets were reopened but educational institutions were being kept closed.

The protesters wanted to come on the roads but officials of the local administration and elders of Adenzai Qaumi Jirga held talks and persuaded them to postpone the protest till Monday next.

The PEN leaders demanded of the government to reopen all educational institutions under standard operating procedures for Covid-19. They said that women teachers would also come on roads if the institutions were not reopened till Monday.

Meanwhile, central director general of National Association for Education Hidayat Khan, provincial director Mehfooz Khan and district director Sardar Ali also demanded immediate reopening of educational institutions.

Addressing a news conference in Timergara, they said that the future of about 25 million children was at stake due to prolonged closure of educational institutions. They also demanded financial relief for private institutions.

JAIL: Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Prisons Shafiullah has said a separate jail for women prisoners is being set up in the province.

He told journalists that system of prisons would be improved and a strategy would be devised to make the prisoners useful citizens.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2021