Crisis in Khyber: 7 Girls' Schools Shut Down Amid Staff Shortage and Security Fears
Severe teacher shortages and security risks have forced the closure of seven government girls' primary schools in Khyber's Bara subdivision.
A devastating blow has been dealt to female education in the Bara subdivision of Khyber district, Pakistan, where seven government girls' primary schools have been forced to cease operations. This collapse of educational infrastructure is the result of a lethal combination of severe teacher shortages and a deteriorating security environment, leaving thousands of young girls without access to basic schooling.
The Breakdown: Why Schools Are Closing
The closures, reported as of November 2, 2026, are split between two primary causes: a lack of human resources and the volatile local law-and-order situation.
Closed Due to Teacher Vacancies
Four institutions have shuttered because there simply aren't enough educators to keep the doors open. These include:
- Government Girls Primary School, Haji Mina Dar Khan Kalay Akakhel
- Government Girls Primary School, Tangi Nazar Khel Bargambar Khel
- Government Girls Primary School, Ham Kalay Tarkhuks (Upper Bara)
- Government Girls Primary School, Khuga Jan
Closed Due to Security Risks
Three other schools were forced to close because the security situation became too precarious for students and staff to operate safely. These are:
- Government Girls Primary School, Zale Khan Tirah
- Government Girls Primary School, Muhammad Din Shah
- Government Girls Primary School, Khwaja Kalay Tirah
A Critical Staffing Crisis by the Numbers
Data released by the Sub-Divisional Education Office (Female) in Bara paints a grim picture of the staffing deficit. The gap between sanctioned positions and actual employees is staggering:
- Total Teaching Positions: Out of 310 sanctioned posts, only 209 are filled, leaving 101 vacancies.
- Primary School Teachers (PST): 64 positions remain vacant out of 145 sanctioned.
- Primary School Head Teachers (PSHT): 37 positions are vacant out of 143 sanctioned.
- Non-Teaching Staff: There are 34 vacancies among 270 sanctioned posts.
The impact on the ground is severe. While the system is meant to serve approximately 24,500 girl students, the burden on the remaining staff is unsustainable. In some operational schools, as many as 500 students are being managed by only one or two permanent female teachers.
Desperate Measures and Institutional Neglect
Shakeela Hussain, the Sub-Divisional Education Officer (Female) for Bara, has highlighted that the crisis is being exacerbated by a steady increase in the number of students. She has stressed that the only long-term solution is permanent recruitment conducted through the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA).
In an attempt to plug the immediate holes in the system, authorities have taken the following steps:
- Requested 333 additional temporary teachers.
- Selected 282 local candidates for 300 temporary positions via Parent-Teacher Councils.
A System in Decay
The lack of support extends beyond the classrooms and into the administration itself. The Sub-Divisional Education Office (Female) is currently operating out of a single room within the Bara Tehsil Building. This office is reportedly devoid of basic necessities, including the absence of a women's washroom, reflecting the broader systemic neglect facing female education administrators in the region.