Two rooms of the school were destroyed in the blast while other parts of the building were also damaged, says Police. PHOTO: FILE
SHABQADAR:
A government primary school for boys in Kabli Mirzai, Shabqadar was targeted by unidentified militants on Wednesday.
A police official at Shabqadar police station said an explosion was heard at around 1:30am, adding that two rooms of the school were destroyed in the blast while other parts of the building were also damaged.
More than 20 schools have been destroyed in Shabqadar tehsil, Charsadda, which borders Mohmand Agency. While the education department has reconstructed some schools from the Parent Teachers Council (PTC) fund, other schools remain in debilitated state and many primary school students have to study under the open sky with no facilities.
The education department is facing an acute problem, particularly in Safi and Baizai tehsils of Mohmand Agency. While schools are ‘officially open,’ no students attend classes. Teachers appear to be present on paper, but are physically absent and still get paid.
Mohmand Welfare Organisation President Mir Afzal Mohmand blamed the education department and head teachers of schools in Safi. Some schools in Lakaro have also shown fake attendance registers to fool the department, he said.
An education official at Ghallanai, Saif Muhammad Khan said schools cannot be made functional until the reconstruction department fixes destroyed school buildings.
Political administration official Jamshed Khan said a survey is currently being carried out, and the destroyed schools will be reconstructed once proper data is collected and peace restored.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2013.
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