IDPs protest closure of schools at Jalozai camp

Urge federal govt to make alternative arrangements

JALOZAI: The displaced population of North Waziristan and Khyber agencies took to the streets on Saturday against the closure of their schools at Jalozai IDP camp in Nowshera.

The schools have been shut down permanently from August 15 due to a lack of funding from NGOs. During the protests, a large number of IDPs, including children, pressed the federal government to make alternative arrangements for their education.

Fuel to the fire

Although 60% of IDPs from the camp have been repatriated, hundreds of people still remain. Many of them include students who study at the makeshift schools on the camp.

“We are still homeless and do not even have access to schools anymore now,” said Moneem Khan, a student. Moneem added schools in the camps were run by NGOs and received financial support from Unicef. “However, the funding has now ceased and schools have been closed down,” he said.

Khalil Khan, another IDP, said, “We are also the citizens of this country and have the basic right to education.” He added the responsibility to provide education does not lie with NGOs. “On the contrary, the federal government must make provisions for us.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2015.