MIANWALI, April 27: What does make Mianwali a backward district? Lack of facilities in schools will be appropriate answer, if one goes through a survey done by a non-government organisation.

According to the survey by Education Research Network Organisation, there are 1,686 schools in the district, of them 800 are for boys and 742 for girls.

Surprisingly 163 girls’ schools and 112 for boys are without buildings while 600 schools are housed in rented buildings.

There are 174 Masjid Maktab schools in the district. The number of primary schools for girls is 655 and boys 636.

The district has 62 girls’ middle schools and 101 boys’ middle schools. There are 52 boys’ high schools and 24 girls’ high schools.

The survey disclosed 133 boys’ schools and 156 girls’ schools are functioning in mud houses and 143 school buildings need immediate repair.

Up to 54 girls’ schools and 34 boys’ schools have been closed since long for the reason known to the Education Department. Besides this, buildings of 101 boys’ schools and 137 girls’ schools are being used by villagers as cattle farms.

The report says 20 school buildings pose a threat to students and teachers and can collapse any moment.

The survey found absence of drinking water facilities in 920 schools, electricity in 815 schools, washrooms in 995 schools, boundary walls in 724 schools, playgrounds in 1,339 schools and first aid arrangements in 1, 461 schools.

The report says there are 143 posts of teachers lying vacant in schools.

An insider of the Education Department told Dawn mostly schools were run short of staff and whoever was transferred to these institutions, he or she never joined their new job and soon got them re-transferred. Local politicians also take interest in teacher’s transfer because these teachers are appointed presiding and assistant presiding officers at polling stations during elections.

Social circles have urged Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi to take measures to improve the education sector.