Infrastructure of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

THOUGH militancy has shaken the entire infrastructure of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the last few years, it is the education sector which has borne the brunt of the situation.

Educational institutions, particularly girls schools in the province and Fata, have become soft targets for the militants.

Since education has never been on the priority list of any government, schools are rarely constructed. The destruction of the school buildings not only deprives students of their right to education but also spreads fear among the students and their parents as well people living in the adjacent areas. Due to this fear, students have either stopped going to schools or their parents are shifting them to safer places. The large-scale migration from the militancy ravaged areas has also affected the education of the children.

So far, around 700 schools have been damaged in bomb explosions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including the capital city, said Senior Planning Officer (CPO) Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) Hashmat Khan.

The education sector received another blow when around 1,009 schools were damaged in the recent floods, he said. Similarly, in Fata around 500 educational institutions have been destroyed so far.

The students of the destroyed schools are getting education in tents. It is a question mark how the students would continue education in the chilling winter months and scorching heat in the summer.

Mr. Khan said the schools damaged due to floods and militancy would require around Rs13 billions for reconstruction. Senior officials in ESE are of the view that as the less resourceful province couldn't arrange the whole required amount for the reconstruction of the educational institutions; the department was in contact with donors for provision of funds for the purpose.

The students of the damaged schools have to wait for three years to get proper building if the provincial government and donors arranged funds for the reconstruction of the schools, they added.

The existence of schools, particularly those for girls, in rural areas has become a symbol of threat for people living around the buildings because they think that militants can anytime target them.

The continuous terror attacks on schools have led to a decrease in enrolment in the government run schools, particularly in the militancy-hit districts. These districts include Swat, Tank, Hangu. Charsadda and Karak.

The government had been utilising a huge amount annually to increase enrolment. In this connection, the provincial government has also made education free up to the secondary level besides providing free books to students along with stipends to girls. But due to militancy, these efforts have also proven ineffective.

According to the annual statistical report about government schools, enrolment in primary schools has reduced in the Tank district. In 2008-09, the number