Internet, projectors among other facilities provided. PHOTO: FILE
The Fata Secretariat has provided equipment worth $15,000 to different schools and colleges of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).
According to the education department, the secretariat has provided computers, internet facility, projectors, UPS units and LCDs along with multimedia screens.
In addition, 129 information technology (IT) labs will be built in various academic institutions of Fata. The government also plans to install a solar electric system to help students and teachers overcome problems caused by load-shedding.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Shaukatullah Khan, a native of the tribal areas, is reportedly taking a keen interest in the promotion of education in Fata. On the governor’s directives, a programme was prepared to ensure teachers presence in their respective institutions by issuing identity cards bearing their photographs. The salaries of teachers absent from work will be deducted to ensure compliance.
The education department’s additional director Syed Manzar Jan Sajid said modern technology has to be provided to educational institutions in Kurram, Orakzai, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, North and South Waziristan agencies along with the frontier regions of Kohat, Bannu, Peshawar, Tank and Lakki Marwat.
Sajid added a website dedicated to registering education-related complaints will soon be launched, while transport facility will also be provided to women. Moreover, subject specialists will be hired to teach students at the advanced level.
He said the government planned to prohibit teachers from engaging in politics and journalism. “In order to increase the strength of teachers, we will hire 691 male and 299 female students who would be provided hostel facilities,” claimed Sajid, adding 468 laptops will be given to high achievers every year.
The additional director said scholarships continuing since 1973 will also be increased threefold.
Shahjehan Afridi, a subject specialist from Khyber Agency, appreciated the government’s steps. However, he pointed out teachers would be unable to make full use of the equipment and technology because of frequent power cuts.
Another subject specialist, Saleem Khan also lauded the initiative. “We teach students belonging to different backgrounds from seven tribal agencies and six frontier regions (FR). The internet facility is a must to provide modern education.”
According to the education department, a total of 5,619 schools exist in Fata – 225 for females and 3,269 for males; while around 1,121 are ghost schools and 1,004 schools have been destroyed in militancy-related incidents.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2013.
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