PHOTO: REUTERS
As per the policy, any primary school situated two kilometres away from another institute will be closed down, while any middle school situated within five kilometres and with less than 40 students will also be closed down. This move has been vehemently criticised as it would compel students to travel long distances to go to school.
Representatives from Child Rights Movement (CRM), Taleemi Islahi Jirga and other organisations voiced their reservations at the protest.
Addressing participants, CRM Coordinator Zar Ali Khan said, “The rationalisation policy, which was introduced earlier this year, will create more hurdles for children.” He added, “Fata is already facing challenges in the education sector, with thousands of children out of school in the region.”
He pointed out, “More schools need to be constructed and more children need to be educated.”
Reducing the number of schools will only add to the misery of tribespeople as a large portion of Fata is mountainous, said Zar Ali. He commented there were countless problems in mobility due to the lack of a road network.
“If the policy is implemented, it will create problems for children.” Zar Ali added, “It will deprive students of their fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.”
Social activist Nangyal Bethani said, “There are thousands of educated youth in Fata, but they have not been hired as teachers.” He said the government and Fata administration allocated funds and resources for the development of the region but “are not ensuring those are spent in a transparent manner”.
Protesters referred to a recent survey and said that there was a need to construct more than 5,000 schools in Fata.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2016.
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