TIMERGARA, June 26: Girls in district Dir have fewer higher education opportunities, keeping the percentage of female literacy amongst the lowest in the province.

The only school in the district, which was elevated to the status of higher secondary school during 1999, is facing a lot of problems as the declaration to upgrade its status is yet to materialize.

Incidentally, the school supports from 12 primary schools in its vicinity besides aiding students from 10 of the nearby villages but it faces a chronic shortage of staff.

Students complained about the teachers’ disinterest in teaching activities, adding that there was no science teacher for matric level classes and no laboratory.

The school, they said, had been without a principal since the previous headmistress was transferred five months ago.

One of the students, Mahnaz Bibi, complained about the shortage of school furniture and lack of a library and sports facilities in the educational institution.

Another student, Salma Sami, said that there was hardly any arrangement for cooling the drinking water despite the extreme hot weather.