Sans facilities: Schools in PK-30 effaced by neglect

DEO says five-year plan has been devised to survey all institutes in Mardan

PESHAWAR: Schools in PK-30, Mardan-VIII are in a state of disrepair. Students lack basic facilities and often have to study under the open sky in the blazing summer heat.

In 2015, an education emergency was declared across the province to encourage more children to get an education. However, PK-30 – which is Minister for Education Muhammad Atif Khan’s constituency – has remained insulated from measures taken to introduce changes in the education sector.



Government Primary School Pirabad is one school in the constituency which speaks volumes about the state of educational institutes in PK-30. Situated in Katta Khat union council, the school was set up in 1988. The two-room structure houses over 300 students at a time. It has no toilets, electricity and potable water facilities.

Only one in area

It is the only primary school in the entire union council for girls and boys. Although residents are keen to send their children to school, the absence of basic facilities has served as a disincentive for most parents. As a result, many children are seen working on the fields instead of wielding a pen against a notebook.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Attaullah Khan, an elder, said, “All parents want their children to get education. However, due to lack of facilities they cannot get education.” He said the school lacks basic facilities and children are forced to sit under the open sky in scorching heat. He urged the education minister to visit the area and take notice of the situation. “There is also a pressing need for girls school and high school in the area,” he said.

Lal Khan, head teacher of the school, told The Express Tribune the school has only four teachers. He added the number of students at the institute is above 300.

He said, “The school does not have a boundary wall and the relevant authorities have failed to address the matter even though several notices have been issued against them.” He added the government allocates Rs14,000 for Parent Teacher Councils. “However, the amount is not spent on improving the infrastructure of the school,” Lal said.

No desks

According to the teacher, the police have also registered an FIR against him for failing to maintain foolproof security at the school’s premises. “I belong to a poor family and cannot fulfil security requirements through my own pocket,” he added.

Sajjad Ahmad, an activist in Mardan, said most schools need proper boundary walls.

“All schools in the district require desks and chairs for the students,” he said. “More than 80% lack tables and chairs for teachers.”

According to Sajjad, clean drinking water should be provided at all schools on a war footing.

“At least 80% schools lack toilets and students are compelled to use open spaces, nearby fields and houses to go to the bathroom,” he said. “New rooms should be constructed to accommodate students.”

Speaking to The Express Tribune, District Education Officer Muhammad Siraj Khan said they have devised a five-year plan to survey all schools and collect data of missing facilities. “After the survey is completed, we will be able to provide missing facilities in schools,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2016.