Swept under the carpet: No middle schools for girls in Kedam

Students forced to walk miles to reach nearest educational institute

KEDAM:

For many girls in Swat Valley’s Kedam old enough to go to middle school, dreams of further education will remain just that – something they mark on an unattainable wish list. According to residents, there are no middle schools for girls in the region, depriving them of a range of opportunities.

Kedam is an area that lies on a 35km stretch from Behrain to Kelam, with a population of 85,000 people.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, locals said girls from the area have to walk for many miles to go to the nearest school. “Many girls have to face countless hurdles,” said a local. “The region has unpaved roads and streets, and many bridges are in desperate need. Yet, the girls are adamant to go to school.”

Malala’s home district

Another resident added the limited number of girls schools in Swat remains a cause for concern.

“There are a large number of girls who want to go to school,” he explained. “But there are very few schools and this causes overcrowding. Most students have no choice but to sit outside due to lack of space. Come rain or shine, girls can be seen studying under the open sky.” Parents have not vehemently opposed their daughters’ decision to go to school. Many of them realise education can pave the way for unlimited opportunities and do not want to deprive their children of this privilege.

Every year, nearly 500 girls graduate from primary school but there  are no middle schools for them. “We need more middle schools for girls,” said one parent. “We have appealed to the government to set up middle schools. So far, the government has promised to establish one for us. We also asked the government to upgrade one of the primary schools in the area to a middle school.”

[Not] looking forward

Prior to Operation Rah-e-Rast in 2009, militants dealt a critical blow to education by destroying schools in the valley.  Nonetheless with time, militancy and extremism took a backseat to a struggle for normalcy. The morning gong was once again heard as many schools were reopened and reconstructed. However, girls were reluctant to go back to school.

After six years, the persistent sense of fear and insecurity has steadily lifted. Girls are now eager to resume education but are facing countless challenges.

According to residents, the government has not taken appropriate measures to prioritise the education of girls.  The provincial government had launched the Tameer-e-school project in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with plans to set up 35 schools in Swat. However, it has yet to take an initiative to set up schools for girls.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2015.