SWAT: The residents of Kalam have complained about the closure of the valley’s only government girls high school in the wake of the recent flooding and feared the learning loss of students.

They told Dawn that upper parts of Swat district were worst hit by the flash floods with Kalam valley being among them.

The residents said the reopening of the road to Bahrain led to the restoration of normalcy.

“All schools were closed after the floods hit the region but schools for boys were later opened. However, the only school for girls in Kalam area is still closed badly affecting the education of students,” said Hameed Kalami, father of a schoolgirl.

He feared that any further delay in the reopening of the school could cost students dearly, especially by affecting their preparations for exams.

The residents said that the flooding-induced damage to infrastructure stopped students living in far-flung hamlets from going to the school but as the roads and bridges had been reopened to traffic after repair or reconstruction, the girls could resume studies in person.

Another Kalam resident, Malik Abdul Wadood, told Dawn that all ways to the girls school were open but the district education officer hadn’t allowed in-person classes there for undisclosed reasons.

“The students have been asked to stay home. If the school closure continues, the students will suffer from a learning loss,” he said.

The residents also said teachers of the school had also been sent on leave.

When contacted, district education officer (female) Shamim said the principal and teachers of the Kalam girls school lived in the far-off Lower Swat and since the roads to the campus were damaged by floods, they couldn’t make it to the duty.

She said the principal and teachers were given leave.

The DEO said as the roads to the school had been restored, the staff members would be asked to rejoin duty next week for the resumption of in-person learning.

She said additional classes would be arranged for students to make up for the lost instructional time.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2022