MANSEHRA: Local body representatives and residents of Oghi and its suburban areas on Sunday urged the education department to appoint teachers to formally start the intermediate section at Government Girls High School, Danda Kholian.

“The schoolgirls and their families were overjoyed when the government announced the commencement of the intermediate section last year, following the approval of teaching posts, but this still remains a dream,” Khushal Khan, councillor of the Danda Kholian village council, told reporters in Oghi.

A group of local residents led by Mr Khan said that the higher secondary section had been approved years ago, but classes have yet to begin.

“Hundreds of girls complete their matriculation every year but are unable to continue their education due to local cultural norms that restrict them from travelling to other towns or cities,” he added.

Mr Khan said that even after the government sanctioned posts for subject specialists, it failed to make the higher secondary section operational.

“As the Abbottabad Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education recently announced matriculation results and intermediate admissions have opened elsewhere, this school has not invited applications, leaving girls in limbo,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2025