PESHAWAR: Thousands of students enrolled in around 500 shelter-less government primary schools in the hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been braving the shivering winter seasons since their schools had been demolished in the 2005 devastating earthquake.

The federal and provincial governments have failed to provide a conducive learning environment to the students at the shelter-less schools and the same number of schools functioning in rented buildings in Hazara division.

The devastating earthquake had destroyed thousands of schools and other government departments. Since 2005, a large number of schools have been either functioning in rented building or in the tents, however, the students of 500 schools still attend classes under the open sky.

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According to the annual statistical report of government schools, Kohistan stands on the top of the list by having 162 shelter-less schools including 17 for girls; followed by Mansehra with 151 schools including 43 for girls.

The report prepared by the elementary and secondary education department states that there are 51 shelter-less schools in Battagram, of them eight for girls; 42 in Abbottabad including 11 for girls; 27 in Shangla; 24 in Torghar including seven for girls and three in Swat.

The students of the government primary school Hanjoo in Peshora union council of Thakot area in Abbottabad also get education under the open sky.

“Currently over 100 students are enrolled in government primary school Hanjoo but the school has no building,” said Javed Iqbal, the general secretary of All Primary Teachers Association Battagram.

He told Dawn that students of six classes from nursery to 5th grade gathered in a room of mud provided by the community during snowfall or rain. Asked as to how the students of six different grades were taught in a single room, he said that it was not possible but the teachers made efforts to keep the students engaged in such situation by teaching a common topic rather than the textbooks.

“For instance, we teach them prayers or general knowledge when the students of different grades are setting in a single room,” said the teacher.

Another teacher from Mansehra said that there was no concept of schooling during bad weather conditions. “The shelter-less schools remain closed until rain or snowfall is stopped,” he said.

The teacher said that in summer season, the students were forced to sit under the shadow of trees.

“Neither teachers can teach with concentration, nor students can learn because it is not possible when non-academic activities take place in the surroundings,” he said.

A senior official in the Kohistan district education office told Dawn that out of 145 shelter-less schools, many were functioning in a single room guest house provided by the community members.

Ziaullah Bangash, adviser to chief minister on elementary and secondary education, when contacted, said that it was the responsibility of the Earthquake Reconstruction Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) to reconstruct the destroyed schools. After the 2005 earthquake, the federal government had established Erra for rehabilitation and reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructure.

“We are in consultation with Erra regarding the reconstruction of the destroyed schools,” said Mr Bangash. He said that the previous PTI-led provincial government had also taken up the issue with Erra to fulfil its responsibilities by reconstructing the schools.

He said that more meetings with Erra were also in the schedule of the education department in that connection.

“If Erra refuses, then we will approach international donor organisations for reconstruction of schools in the hilly areas of the province,” he added.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2018