36,967 KP school classrooms in poor condition

36,967 KP school classrooms in poor condition

PESHAWAR: A concerning assessment of public school infrastructure in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has revealed that 36,967 classrooms across the province are in dilapidated condition, highlighting the urgent need for repairs and reconstruction to provide students with safe learning environments.

According to sources in the Education Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has 34,784 government schools. Of these, 19,224 classrooms require reconstruction, while another 17,743 need repairs. The figures point to significant infrastructure challenges facing the province’s public education system, where thousands of students attend classes in buildings that require immediate attention.

The situation has raised concerns about the safety and quality of educational facilities, particularly in schools where damaged buildings and inadequate infrastructure can disrupt academic activities and expose students and teachers to potential risks.

Meanwhile, the Private Schools Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has acknowledged that it does not maintain data on unregistered private schools in the province. According to the authority, officials take action against unregistered institutions when they receive complaints. The province currently has 11,542 registered private schools.

Director of Secondary and Higher Education Jafar Mansoor said the government was constructing 1,000 new classrooms through Parent-Teacher Council (PTC) funds. He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had more than 34,000 government schools, with hundreds of thousands of classrooms across the province.

The new construction initiative aims to improve educational facilities, although the scale of the reported damage indicates that substantial additional work may be required to address the overall infrastructure deficit.

In a related development, a report into the collapse of a school building in Peshawar’s Deeri Colony found that poor construction had caused the structure to collapse. Authorities sent the report to the provincial police chief, raising further questions about construction standards and the safety of educational buildings.

The incidents have renewed attention on the need for proper building inspections, effective monitoring of construction projects and timely maintenance of school facilities to protect students and staff.

The figures underline the challenge facing education authorities as they work to improve school infrastructure across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Ensuring that classrooms meet safety standards and that damaged buildings receive timely repairs will remain essential to providing students with a secure and conducive learning environment.