LOWER DIR: Despite Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s claims of imposing an ‘education emergency’, the dismal condition of a primary school in Tangu Manz area of Rabat Dara paints a different picture.

During a visit to the school on Saturday, social activist Daim Shah told journalists that over 700 boys and girls were enrolled in the school, yet a majority of them were forced to study under the open sky due to a severe shortage of classrooms, teaching staff, and essential facilities.

“There are only four classrooms for hundreds of students. Most children sit on the ground, exposed to the harsh sun in summer and the biting cold in winter,” said Mr Shah. “There is no proper seating arrangement, no clean drinking water, no toilets, and not enough teachers to handle such a large student body.”

Mr Shah demanded of the chief secretary, minister for education and director elementary and secondary education department to take notice of the situation and resolve the issue amicably.

The social activist said that repeated appeals to the authorities had fallen on deaf ears, and described the provincial government’s slogan of “Literate Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” as hollow.

Mr Shah warned that the local community might be compelled to launch a protest if the government failed to address the issue urgently.

When contacted, deputy district education officer (DDEO) Fayyazuddin acknowledged the shortage of classrooms and said two additional rooms had been constructed at the school about five years ago. “The school is indeed overcrowded, and more classrooms are needed. However, due to lack of additional grants from the provincial government, students continue to suffer in both summer and winter,” he said. The official said that necessary correspondence had been made with the higher authorities.

District education officer for male schools in Lower Dir, Inayatullah, also confirmed that a formal request for the construction of more classrooms had been sent to the provincial authorities. “The higher-ups have assured us that more rooms will be built once funds become available,” he told Dawn.

APCA PLANS PROTEST: All-Pakistan Clerks Association’s (APCA) provincial leadership visited Lower Dir the other day to prepare for a planned sit-in in Islamabad on June 10 aimed at demanding clerical rights and improved working conditions.

APCA district president Sehat Jan briefed the central president Fazal Ghaffar Bacha, vice-chairman Haji Hidayatullah, and chief election commissioner Zaman Khattak on the challenges clerks face locally, including staff shortages and lack of service structure.

The meeting resolved that all government employees from the district would participate in the protest outside the Parliament House.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2025