SWABI, Sept 17: The authorities have decided to provide arms to the watchmen of government schools to protect educational institutions in the district from attacks of militants, according to sources.

They said that district administration and education department chalked out jointly a comprehensive strategy for protection of educational institutions. They said that about 23 educational institutions were destroyed in the district by militants during the last one and half year.

Sources said that District Education Officer Abdul Salam and District Coordination Officer Mohammad Shah held consultations with heads of primary, middle, high and higher secondary schools during the last few months to devise a strategy for protection of educational institutions.

They said that the schools where watchmen were present at night remained safe while the institutions where watchmen were not present at night were targeted by unidentified militants.

The peons of the schools also participated in the meetings and due weight was given to their proposals. But, it was made clear to them that they must be present in the school at night, sources said.

They said that each police station was bound to check presence of watermen in the schools at night in its limits. If a watchman was found absent, the head of the school should be informed and a copy of the absence report should be sent to EDO and district police officer, sources said.

The DCO and education officers told the heads of schools that it was a crisis-like situation and they would have to take result-oriented steps for protection of their educational institutions.

Sources said that headmasters and head teachers were told that they would also be responsible for protection of their respective educational institutions and administration would fully support them.

They were told to buy weapons for watchmen of their schools and get arm licences for them on priority basis. The heads of schools were told to utilise parent-teacher council funds to buy arms for watchmen, sources said.

The watchmen were told to inform the nearest police station or police post immediately in case of any emergency. Police would assist them without any delay, they were told.

Meanwhile, it has been learnt that classes are being held in the damaged educational institutions and teachers have been told to work with full concentration in the present difficult times.

The teachers of the damaged schools, when contacted, said that they faced difficulties.

However, they vowed that they would continue imparting education to children and encouraging their students to focus on getting education.