UPPER DIR: The girls of Chinar Khwar, a village on the outskirts of Dir town, have demanded the construction of a primary school in their area.

The demand was made during a walk organised by the education department to enrol children in different schools of the district.

The girls held placards with messages for the school’s construction.

They complained they struggled to get basic education in the absence of a primary school in their area.

They said some girls had enrolled themselves in a boys’ school but others didn’t do so in line with local customs.

A girl told Dawn that it was unfortunate that the girls of Chinar Khwar were denied the basic right to education on their doorstep.

“The people are opposed to sending daughters to the boys’ school. That is the main hurdle to increase in literacy rate among women in the region,” she said.

A girl enrolled in the boys’ school said she felt isolated in the classroom as there were no girls.

“I can’t play and mingle with boys,” she said.

Other girls complained they’re distressed for being unable to go to the washrooms in the school as they’re used by boys.

Schoolteacher Rahimuddin said many girls were enrolled in the school originally meant for boys though local customs didn’t favour coeducation.

“Our society doesn’t accept girls and boys studying on one premises,” he said.

The teacher said the school had enrolled girls ‘under compulsion’ as there’s no school for them in the area.

Local residents said they had repeatedly taken up the matter with their elected representatives, for corrective measures, but to no avail.

They said the PTI government had declared education emergency in the province but its benefits had yet to reach their village.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2016