DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The 110-year-old Government Girls Centennial Model High School No. 1, established in 1916, has fallen into a state of disrepair, raising concerns about the safety of hundreds of students enrolled there.
Residents and parents urged the relevant authorities to reconstruct the school building and take immediate measures to ensure the safety of the students.
According to local residents, the school building lies below the level of the adjoining street and market, causing wastewater to accumulate around the premises and remain stagnant for prolonged periods.
They said the persistent accumulation of water was damaging the building’s foundations and could further compromise its structural stability, posing a serious risk to the life of students and staff.
Parents demand urgent reconstruction of 110-year-old school
Residents further revealed that pieces of plaster had previously fallen from the school’s roof, injuring a teacher and three students. They expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the historic building and called for urgent measures to ensure the safety of students and staff.
They added that the administration had been informed about the deteriorating condition of the building on several occasions, but the issue remained unresolved.
Parents called for an immediate structural inspection of the school and urged the authorities to undertake reconstruction work to prevent any major accident and ensure a safe learning environment for the students.
In Bannu, Deputy Commissioner Ziaur Rehman Khattak constituted committees to inspect government and private school buildings across the district.
According to a notification issued by the additional deputy commissioner’s Office, the committees will assess the overall condition of school buildings, identify potential hazards and evaluate their suitability for educational activities.
In Mansehra, people from different walks of life demanded of the government to conduct safety audits of public and private schools and seminary buildings in the upper parts of Hazara Division.
Amir Bunari, president of Awan-i-Tajarat, told reporters in Oghi that the assistant commissioner Oghi should constitute technical teams comprising officials from the relevant departments to ensure the early inspection of all public and private schools and seminaries.
Meanwhile, people in Torghar demanded of the government to conduct safety audits of school and seminary buildings across the district.
“Most school and seminary buildings in the remote mountainous areas of the district have mud structures that could prove dangerous for students,” resident Rubnawaz Khan said.
Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2026
