PESHAWAR, May 16: The Unicef-funded informal primary schools for poor girls of Swabi are functioning in inappropriate buildings and without basic facilities, according to teachers and people of the area.

“Single and two-room mud-houses, which have been either rented or donated by private owners, are being used as schools,” said a teacher.

In reply to a question, she said a resident of Tohidabad had donated his two-room mud-house for the purpose but the poor building did not have a toilet.

There are about 100 children in a school for which only one teacher has been appointed, said a source.

There are a total of 30 such schools set up in various union councils of the Swabi district under the Primary Girls Education Project (2004-08). Unicef is funding the project in collaboration with a local NGO and the education department.

Ihsanullah, the head of the NGO, said the project did not have any provision of funds for school buildings. “The idea behind the project was to involve the community in providing non-formal education. The locals were supposed to provide buildings and we were to appoint teachers,” he said.

“The community has provided us with buildings without charging any rent,” said Mr Ihsanullah, adding that there were some 30 teachers in these schools.

According to a source, a teacher is paid Rs2,500 out of which she pays electricity charges and also the rent where required.

A teacher said that the number of students at a school was likely to increase to 200-250 in the next academic session and it would not be possible for one teacher to take care of so many students.

More girls are getting enrolled due to proximity of these schools to their houses, said Sher Zaman, a local resident.

A six-year-old student, Ilm, said she had got books and bag free of cost.

“The annual examination will be held at the end of this month and we expect the enrolment will be doubled so we will need more space and facilities in the next session,” said a teacher.