Militancy woes: Steps being taken to restore education in Orakazai Agency

Tents provided to damaged schools in Orakzai Agency.

PESHAWAR:

The education sector in Orakzai Agency was severely affected by the militancy, with most government schools burnt down or destroyed by militants. To bolster the education sector, the political administration has provided 172 large tents to 33 damaged schools across the agency, with the hope of saving the future of thousands of local students.

Authorities have also provided 10 tents to four basic health units (BHUs) and civil dispensaries to help them continue doing work in the agency. These moves are expected to benefit more than 4,463 students and 192 teachers of the schools.

Orakzai Agency Political Agent Riaz Khan Masood visited some of the tented schools in Bezoti, Jalaka Mela and Chaman Jana, and expressed satisfaction over the education progress in the tented classrooms. He said that the political administration will provide school uniforms and bags to the talented students of the best tented schools.

While talking to students and teachers on the occasion, the political agent said that government is committed to providing quality education to children in conflict-hit areas and are trying to normalise the situation as much as they can. He advised students to focus only on their studies.

The students, teachers and tribal elders welcomed the initiative, saying that it showed that the government was trying to making education accessible to children in the tribal areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2011.