UPPER DIR, May 27: The only government higher secondary school for girls in Upper Dir has been facing shortage of classrooms and teachers, making it extremely hard for the students to continue their education.

The students complained that it was shocking to see over 200 students stuffed in small classrooms which can hardly accommodate 60 to 70 students. “Such a huge number of girls in our classroom causes suffocation,” said a student of 6th class. The school has a total strength of 1,100 students.

Sources said strength of class 6th was 224, class 7th 230, class 8th 210, class 9th 280 and class 10th 170. These students, the sources said, had been stuffed in the small classrooms like chickens.

The more pathetic aspect of the school is that there is no desk or mat for students to sit on. Majority of the students, particularly class 7th, are compelled to sit on bare floor, both in winter and summer. Some students have brought mats from their homes to sit on.

Moreover, the school that was established in 1998 is a higher secondary school but first and second year classes have never started in it. A number of posts of teachers, including science teacher, are lying vacant in the school for years. Also, the school is being run without a principal and any junior teacher is picked up for the job.

Hundreds of girls drop out from the school after grade 10th every year due to the fact that higher secondary classes have not been started in the school due to shortage of teachers and a proper building.

The sources said that the continued apathy and incapability of the government was discouraging the girls in this conservative district to get education.