Primary education: Children in Shaukat Dara village have no ‘lessons’ to learn
Schools remains non-operational for 21 years, education department claims it has no record of the institute.
Shaukat Dara village is home to some 150 families with nearly 400 children of school-going age. PHOTO: FAZAL KHALIQ/EXPRESS
MINGORA:
In 21 years there have been no classes held at the government primary school in Shaukat Dara village.
Situated around eight kilometres (km) from Saidu Sharif, the district headquarters of Swat, the two-room school was constructed in 1992. Although residents tried several times to make the school operational, the building remains abandoned.
A resident of the village Syed Mohammad Advocate said he had contacted both the education department and the elected representatives to get the school running, but no one heeded their requests.
“Children below the age of 10 cannot go to school as the other primary school is located in Guligram, which is four kilometres away, and they cannot walk that far. Most parents do not get their children enrolled in school at all because of this,” Syed said.
The village is home to some 150 families with nearly 400 children of school-going age. These children are deprived of education because of the lack of interest on the government’s part.
“I contacted the district education department regarding the school in Shaukat Dara. To my surprise the department had no knowledge that it existed,” said Hazir Gul, a social activist from Islampur village.
He claimed he even tried to get non-governmental organisations (NGO) and elected representatives of the area to take interest, but all his efforts were in vain.
Education department’s Assistant District Officer Azam Khan said he had personally visited the village and seen the school.
“Since the school was not properly handed over to the education department, we have no record of it. However, we are in contact with the Communication and Works Department for repairs to be carried out on the building and we intend to create teaching posts so the school can become operational soon,” Azam said.
The village is in dire need of schools for girls as well. Residents want their children to be educated on the same level and appealed to NGOs and the government to construct such educational institutes.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2013.
In 21 years there have been no classes held at the government primary school in Shaukat Dara village.
Situated around eight kilometres (km) from Saidu Sharif, the district headquarters of Swat, the two-room school was constructed in 1992. Although residents tried several times to make the school operational, the building remains abandoned.
A resident of the village Syed Mohammad Advocate said he had contacted both the education department and the elected representatives to get the school running, but no one heeded their requests.
“Children below the age of 10 cannot go to school as the other primary school is located in Guligram, which is four kilometres away, and they cannot walk that far. Most parents do not get their children enrolled in school at all because of this,” Syed said.
The village is home to some 150 families with nearly 400 children of school-going age. These children are deprived of education because of the lack of interest on the government’s part.
“I contacted the district education department regarding the school in Shaukat Dara. To my surprise the department had no knowledge that it existed,” said Hazir Gul, a social activist from Islampur village.
He claimed he even tried to get non-governmental organisations (NGO) and elected representatives of the area to take interest, but all his efforts were in vain.
Education department’s Assistant District Officer Azam Khan said he had personally visited the village and seen the school.
“Since the school was not properly handed over to the education department, we have no record of it. However, we are in contact with the Communication and Works Department for repairs to be carried out on the building and we intend to create teaching posts so the school can become operational soon,” Azam said.
The village is in dire need of schools for girls as well. Residents want their children to be educated on the same level and appealed to NGOs and the government to construct such educational institutes.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2013.