GENEVA: More than 170 schools in Pakistan have been blown up or burned down in the past two years, the UN Children's agency said Friday, in attacks blamed on Taliban extremists.
"UNICEF condemns these attacks which rob children of their basic right to education and have a devastating impact on their lives," said Daniel Toole, UNICEF's regional director for South Asia.
"Attacks that target schools, educational institutions, children and teachers are unacceptable and must cease immediately," Toole added.
In one incident last week in the northwestern Swat valley, five schools were blown up.
The attacks particularly targeted girls' schools in the country's Federally Administered Tribal Area and the North West Frontier Province, UNICEF said.
Many other schools had been forced to close after being occupied by armed groups or security forces or because female teachers had been threatened, it added.
"Schools must be safe spaces for children. UNICEF calls on all groups, and particularly the government of Pakistan, to intensify efforts to protect schools, students and teachers," Toole said.
Last week officials said tens of thousands of students in the Swat valley were facing a year without classes after a local Taliban commander in December threatened to kill any girls attending classes after January 15, and to blow up any schools where girls were enrolled.
As a result, about 400 private schools are unlikely to open their doors next month after winter holidays
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