School tragedies expose deadly safety failures

October 18, 2026

Schools in all parts of Pakistan are facing a serious safety crisis, with building collapses and other school-related incidents claiming the lives of children across the country. The latest tragedy in Peshawar has once again raised questions about the safety of school buildings and the failure to prevent avoidable deaths.

On October 15, the roof of Al-Khair Education Center in Dir Colony, Peshawar, collapsed, killing 34 students and a female teacher, according to the figures provided. More than 50 people were reported injured in the incident.

Around 110 children were reportedly attending classes when the roof collapsed. Rescue workers and local residents searched through the rubble to recover trapped children. School bags, books and broken furniture were scattered across the site, turning an ordinary school morning into a scene of devastation.

Police officials attributed the collapse to a weak building structure and the additional weight of construction on the roof. Heavy rainfall and the alleged use of poor-quality construction materials were also cited as possible factors. Reports that complaints about leaks and damaged structures had been ignored have raised further concerns about negligence.

Police registered a case against the building contractor, owners and shareholders. The school owner was also reported to have been arrested. The provincial government ordered inspections of private schools and announced compensation for the families of those killed and injured.

However, the tragedy in Peshawar is not an isolated incident. Previous reports from different parts of Pakistan have documented school wall and roof collapses, laboratory accidents, school transport crashes and attacks on children travelling to educational institutions.

Incidents reported in Lahore, Jhelum, Bannu, Dera Ghazi Khan and Umerkot have also raised questions about the protection of schoolchildren. Together, these events point to serious weaknesses in building safety, emergency planning and the enforcement of existing rules.

The government must treat school safety as a basic responsibility, not a matter to address only after children die.