Tribal militants: FATA students wait until govt reestablishes writ

Authorities unwilling to begin work as they feel militants may attack schools again.

PESHAWAR: Reconstruction work on educational institutions will begin in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) once the government’s writ is reestablished in no-go areas, Fata Secretariat officials told The Express Tribune.

According to a report compiled by the Fata Disaster Management Authority and the Fata Directorate of Education, over 440 educational institutions, including schools and colleges, have been blown up by militants in the tribal belt.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that they did not have complete data as most institutions were in no-go areas, which neither the officials of the directorate of education nor security forces can enter. The secretariat, they said, cannot make alternative arrangements to educate students who have been affected.

“Construction work will be launched under the Damage and Assessment Programme after peace is restored to the region. We are already in contact with the World Bank and other international donor agencies,” an official said.

They said the secretariat and other responsible departments were unwilling to begin work on these institutions, which they feel can be blown up by militants again.

The data showed that only five schools had been destroyed in North Waziristan, which is the stronghold of Taliban militants. Most destruction took place in Kurram Agency, where 85 schools were destroyed.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2011.