In shambles: Over 100 years old, school in Shabqadar wears its age on its face

Housed in a rented building, the crumbling structure is eroded by neglect and apathy.

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has taken a number of steps to improve the state of education in the province. Enrolment campaigns and the recent announcement to establish an academy for street children has much potential to reduce illiteracy. However, school buildings continue to crumble amidst apathy, bringing into question the effectiveness of an ‘education emergency’.

Government Primary School Sreikh in Shabqadar tehsil of Charsadda is one of many such buildings. Established in 1912, the school is housed in a rented building, whose appearance belies its historic background.

A teacher at the school, Saifullah Khan says the building once schooled Pakistan Movement activist Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar. Saifullah adds Nishtar’s name is still found in the old records of the school.

According to Saifullah, it was the first school of Shabqadar and a large number of children from across the tehsil came there to attain education.



However, the school’s structure is now in such decrepit condition that it is difficult to imagine it was once a point of convergence for those eager to learn.

The roof leaks, there is no furniture for teachers and students to sit or work on, and no playground for the children to play and exercise. The two classrooms don’t even have blackboards and teachers write lessons on the walls instead. Moreover, the crumbling structure offers little protection from the weather. Saifullah says the school has to be closed when it rains because water seeps through the walls and roof, threatening to cave them in.

Since there are only two rooms, students of fourth and fifth grades are taught inside whereas the others learn their lessons outside in the open. There are only three teachers and although they are paid salaries by the government, they seem unhappy over the inadequate facilities which make their job near impossible.

A student of fifth grade, Arshad Khan said they have to go to the fields to answer the call of nature and to a nearby mosque to drink water.

Saifullah said the education department has finally released Rs8,000 from the Parent-Teachers Council’s Fund for maintenance work.

Government Primary School Sreikh is not the only school in shambles in the district.

Noshad Khan, a resident of the area, said people who can afford to send their children to private schools do so because their standard of education is better. “We want our children to receive quality education, but cannot afford fees of private schools.”

Speaking to The Express Tribune, District Education Officer Sirak Khan admitted the school’s condition was less than satisfactory. He said funds had been allocated for its renovation, but construction could not begin as yet because facilities cannot be installed in rented buildings. He added they have repeatedly requested locals to provide land for the school, but no one has yet come forward. He said they will start construction as soon as they are able to obtain land for the purpose.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2015.