Crumbling Foundations: Crisis in Malakand's Educational Infrastructure

A report reveals that up to 80% of government school buildings in Malakand are unsafe, endangering students and staff. Efforts for rebuilding remain stagnant, despite recent injuries from structural failures. The public demands urgent action to ensure a safe educational environment in flood-prone Swat.

In an alarming revelation, the Communication and Works Department of Swat district reports that up to 80% of government school structures in Malakand are considered unsafe, placing students and educational staff at considerable risk. The Express Tribune highlighted how many of these structurally unsound buildings, some dating back to 1912 and 1926, are particularly susceptible to collapse.

The situation is especially dire in the PK-23 constituency, covering Batkhela and Baizai tehsils, where 11 school buildings urgently require demolition and reconstruction. Despite repeated documentation of these hazardous conditions by provincial authorities, no remedial actions have been undertaken, according to DEO office sources. Public pressure mounts for immediate reconstruction to safeguard students' future.

Recent incidents underscore the critical need for intervention. In July 2024, a classroom roof collapse in Tangaar village injured six children, three critically, following which they were treated at Matta Tehsil and Saidu Teaching Hospitals. Earlier, a tragic school bus accident in Khwazakhela tehsil resulted in the death of one child and injuries to 41 others. Education officials and experts warn that many flood-damaged schools in Swat still await rehabilitation, calling for urgent government and NGO intervention to rebuild, particularly prioritizing girls' schools. Challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, natural disasters, and security threats persistently undermine the region's educational progress.

(With inputs from agencies.)