Up in arms: Protests erupt in Swat, Lower Dir over closure of maktabs

Parents say children cannot travel long distances to primary schools.

MINGORA/ TIMERGARA: Social activists, parents and students took to the streets in Swat and Lower Dir over the decision to discontinue maktabs and transfer students to primary schools run by the government.

In Swat, protesters flayed the government’s decision to merge 93 maktabs with other state-run primary schools across the district.

The demonstration was led by Dr Jawad Iqbal, a social activist and blogger, and was attended by members of NGO Alif Ailaan. During the demonstration, social activists and students pressed the government to stop merging maktabs with local primary schools.

Addressing the protesters, Iqbal said the K-P government has merged 1,000 schools all over the province.

“It is now in the process of transferring over 100,000 students to the already over-burdened primary schools,” he said. “This transfer is also causing problems for maktab students as they are finding it difficult to travel to and from primary schools as many of them are located over five kilometres away from their houses. How can a 10-year-old student be expected to travel 10 kilometres every day?”

Ghulam Farooq, a protester, told The Express Tribune militancy and floods have affected the quality of education.

“The government’s decision to merge maktabs with primary schools is adding fuel to the fire,” he said.

Roohul Amin, whose son studies at a maktab, said he did not agree with the government’s decision to shut down maktabs.

“The government should not close down schools which already exist,” he said. “This is not the way to deal with an education emergency.”

A recurring crisis

Separately, parents from various areas of Lower Dir protested against the decision to close down 90 maktabs in the district. Protesters marched towards Khal police station where they held a sit-in and shouted slogans against the provincial government.

According to a protester, the district education department has closed 96 maktabs in Tormanag Darra, Khadang, Payen Bandha, Khanbar Kalay and other villages of the district.



Government officials – including Khal tehsil EDO, Additional Assistant Commissioner Shah Jamil and DSP Tahir – arrived on the scene to negotiate with the protesters. The EDO announced the tehsil will keep maktabs open till August 15, saying he will discuss the parents’ concerns with the education department.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2015.