SIALKOT, May 13 A majority of public schools in Daska have been working without basic facilities for several years causing hardships for students and teachers, say Education Department sources.

There are 215 primary schools, 23 middle schools, 19 secondary schools and two higher secondary schools to cater to the needs of 800,000 population of the tehsil. Most of the schools lack shortage of teachers, electricity, potable water and furniture.

The Education Department has divided Daska tehsil's schools into four clusters called markaz and they are Daska, Motra, Satrah and Bambaanwala.

In Satrah markaz, of a total of 50 government boys' schools, 11 have no boundary walls, 16 are without toilets and six schools have no buildings. In Motra markaz, of 52 schools, 20 schools have no boundary walls, 30 no toilets and drinking water facility and two schools are without buildings.

In Bambaanwala markaz, there are 38 schools, of which four have no boundary walls and four others have no toilets. Four schools are without teaching staff while five schools consist of one room each. A school located in the markaz, Government Primary School, Jhandu Sahi, has been closed down due to the non-availability of teachers.

In 57 schools of Daska markaz, seven schools are without boundary walls, 10 without electricity and 20 schools have no toilets. Four schools in Nazirabad Colony, Awami Road, Kot Ghumman and Gulshan Colony have no buildings.

Even though rules provide that the government spend Rs20,000 on every primary school's building annually and Rs50,000 on every government middle school, the situation in the schools speaks otherwise.

Daska Education Department officials say they have written many times to senior officials about the shortage of facilities but no measures have been announced for the schools.