SWAT: Education department officials and experts on Wednesday highlighted that most of the flood-hit schools in Swat were yet to be rehabilitated, noting that 20 per cent more girls would be able to get education if these institutions were provided with proper buildings and facilities.

They were speaking at a meeting organised by Lasoona Relief and Development Organisation in collaboration with the education department’s local office.

Education department’s planning officer Abdul Aziz Shaheen, district education officer (female) Shamim Akhtar, Lasoona project manager Barkat Ali, headmistresses and teachers of several schools were in attendance.

The meeting was informed that many schools lacked clean water, washrooms and sufficient space. Still majority of schools were located away from population due to space constraints, and many of them didn’t have sports fields and grounds, while boundary walls of others had collapsed or were completely missing.

The participants urged the government and non-government institutions to play their role in providing adequate facilities to girl schools.

Women teachers said many girls in remote and hilly areas didn’t go to school due to poverty as their parents didn’t have money to buy them uniforms, shoes and books. They said parents didn’t have money to rent vehicles to send their daughters to schools. They said poor parents couldn’t even give pocket money to their daughters.

Education department’s planning officer Abdul Aziz said every year the government conducted a special campaign for girls to enter school. “The campaigns bear remarkable results, and many parents have started sending their children to schools,” he said, adding, however, that some schools lacked facilities. He said provision of facilities in the flood-hit schools was being ensured.

Barkat Ali, the Lasoona project manager, said the body was working to provide facilities such as clean water, construction of toilets and washrooms. “We will also provide solar systems to schools,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2024