Targeting education: Two schools destroyed by suspected militants

"Funds have beenallocated for their reconstruction and work will begin soon," says Education Officer Muhamad Ashraf Afridi

JAMRUD / SHABQADAR: Two schools were blown up by unidentified militants on Wednesday.

The incidents occurred in Ghudai area of Jamrud, Khyber Agency and Tehsil Safi of Mohmand Agency.

Jamrud Assistant Political Agent Bakhtiar Mohmand said that the targeted school was under construction. “The blast occurred in the late hours of Tuesday night,” he said. Owner of the school, Haji Khandad Afridi, said that three rooms of the school were completely destroyed in the blast, while the boundary wall was partially damaged. “The sound of the blast was heard miles away,” Afridi added.

In the second incident, an official of the political administration said that a government primary school for boys was destroyed by unidentified militants in Joharh area of Safi Ghongat, in the early hours of Wednesday. Militants have destroyed around 102 schools in Mohmand Agency, while more than 50 schools have been destroyed in Safi.

Agency Education Officer Muhamad Ashraf Afridi said a report on destroyed schools has been submitted to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas secretariat. “Funds have been allocated for their reconstruction and work will begin soon,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2012.