KARACHI, Jan 7: Normal academic activities could not be resumed at more than 150 schools and colleges which were either destroyed or ransacked in the recent violence across Sindh, Shujaat Ali Baig, provincial (caretaker) Minister for Education, told Dawn.

The educational institutions reopened on Monday after the winter vacation.

“We have so far got reports of complete or partial damage to about 150 schools and colleges. Besides, dozens of offices of the education department were attacked and damaged,” he said.

The minister, who visited different parts of the province lately, said many buildings of schools or colleges had been completely destroyed.

“I saw a college in Ranipur town of district Khairpur, which was plundered and almost reduced to ashes.

This college just represented many educational institutions which were destroyed during the violence,” said Mr Baig.

According to him, almost all the districts of Sindh had witnessed violent disturbances but the districts where educational institutions were targeted more included Naushero Feroze, Shikarpur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, Khairpur, Jamshoro and Dadu.

In Karachi, he said, rioters attacked and destroyed two government schools in Gadap Town.

Around half a dozen more schools and colleges were attacked in other areas of the city but the damage caused to them appeared relatively low.

Officials in the provincial education department said they were busy conducting a survey for the assessment of the damage to educational institutions in the province. A report would be compiled in a day or two and submitted to the senior provincial authorities accordingly, he added.

Mr Baig said the violence had certainly created a problem for thousands of students of schools and colleges, but efforts were being made to save them from an academic loss.

“Initially, we have asked the supervisory staff of the damaged or destroyed educational institutions to hold classes without furniture and other facilities. We are also making arrangements for accommodating students and teachers in certain government buildings in particular areas on a temporary basis for academic purposes.”

The minister said he had also sought permission from the senior authorities for utilising the funds earmarked for some other purposes so that reconstruction of the destroyed buildings could be undertaken.

“We are making all out efforts to ensure resumption of academic activities at the affected institutions as soon as possible,” he said.

Officials in the education department quoted various reports suggesting that attackers had looted all valuables placed in the institutions before setting the buildings on fire.

“Such cases have already been brought to the knowledge of the police officials concerned,” said an official.