Pakistan: School without building for over two decades

The Express Tribune

Whereas some schoolchildren enjoy outdoor activities, that is certainly not the case with the students of Government Primary School Qaziabad in Kabal Tehsil. Come rain or shine, they are forced to take lessons in a tattered tent, exposed to harsh weather. Established in 1988, the school still lacks a proper building among other basic facilities. Currently, there are 197 students enrolled at the school from kindergarten up to third grade. However, they huddle up to take lessons under the same tent.

Shaista, a third grader finds it hard to concentrate amidst so much noise. “When it rains, it gets muddy and the water seeps into the tent. Since we cannot study under such conditions, we simply go home,” she said.Another student, Ruqquia is fond of studying and she gets upset when the school is shut due to bad weather. “Every day, some animals enter our tent and disturb us. Often when we come in the morning, there is animal waste inside the tent,” she said. Salahuddin, a teacher said the school has been erected on an open ground in the middle of residential blocks but they would have to relocate whenever some construction takes place in the area. “Despite several applications to the education department, no one has bothered to address the problems” he added. Furthermore, he demanded the government to construct a building for the school so as to enable the children to study without hindrance. “It is heartening to see these children study in such pathetic conditions especially when the government receives hefty aid in the name of education,” Hamayun Masud, a social activist lamented. When contacted, the District Coordination Officer Kamran Rehman he said that he has asked the Executive District Officer Education to submit report on the school. “I will to arrange a rented building for the children and in the mean time, also try to start construction of a school building on priority basis,” he said.