Teacher Shortage, Security Fears Shut 7 Girls’ Schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Teacher shortages and security fears force the closure of seven girls' schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leaving thousands of students without education.
A deepening crisis in Pakistan’s public education system has come to light as seven government girls’ primary schools in the Bara subdivision of Khyber district have been forced to shut down. The closures are the result of a devastating combination of an acute shortage of teachers and deteriorating security conditions in the region, leaving thousands of young girls without access to basic schooling.
A System in Collapse: The Numbers
Data from the Sub-Divisional Education Office (Female) in Bara reveals a staggering gap in staffing. Out of 310 sanctioned teaching positions, only 209 are currently occupied. This leaves 101 critical teaching roles vacant, including 64 Primary School Teacher (PST) and 37 Primary School Head Teacher (PSHT) posts.
The staffing crisis extends to administrative support as well, with 34 non-teaching positions remaining unfilled out of 270 sanctioned posts.
Which Schools are Affected?
The closures have hit different areas for different reasons. Four schools were shuttered specifically because there were not enough teachers to run them, while three others were closed due to ongoing law-and-order concerns.
The affected institutions include:
- Government Girls Primary Schools in Akakhel, Bargambar Khel, Tarkhuks, and Khuga Jan.
- Three separate schools located in the Tirah Valley.
Overcrowded Classrooms and Understaffed Halls
For the schools that remain open, the situation is barely better. Sub-Divisional Education Officer (Female) Shakeela Hussain highlighted that the problem is being intensified by a growing student population. In some instances, schools with enrollments as high as 500 students are being managed by only one or two permanent female teachers.
Currently, there are approximately 24,500 girl students in the subdivision who are grappling with these systemic failures.
Emergency Measures and Administrative Woes
In an attempt to plug the gaps, authorities have turned to temporary solutions. Through Parent-Teacher Councils, 282 local candidates have been selected to fill 300 temporary teaching slots. Furthermore, officials have requested an additional 333 temporary teachers to keep the system afloat.
However, Shakeela Hussain emphasized that temporary fixes are not enough, stressing that permanent recruitment through the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency is absolutely necessary for long-term stability.
A Lack of Basic Infrastructure
The crisis is not limited to the classrooms. The education department itself is struggling with a severe lack of administrative facilities. The temporary office for the department operates out of a single room within the Bara Tehsil Building. In a stark reflection of the neglect, the office lacks a separate washroom for women.
Local residents have grown frustrated with these conditions and are demanding that the office be relocated to the municipal building to ensure a more functional and dignified working environment.