Thousands of government schools across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continue to operate without essential infrastructure, leaving millions of children at a disadvantage. A new report from the provincial Education Department highlights widespread gaps in basic services, including electricity, clean drinking water, washrooms, and boundary walls.
According to the data, over 10,000 schools in 28 settled districts are affected. More than 5,000 schools lack electricity, and over 2,000 are without clean drinking water and functioning toilets. Boundary walls are also missing from a large number of institutions, raising safety concerns.
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Upper Kohistan stands out as one of the most neglected areas, with hundreds of schools lacking electricity, water, and sanitation. Even in the provincial capital, Peshawar, dozens of schools continue to operate without the necessary amenities.
Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, stated that the government is aware of the issue and is taking steps to improve conditions.
He said additional funds will be allocated in the upcoming budget to address water and sanitation needs. Districts with more than half of their children out of school may face an educational emergency, he added.
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The situation is made worse by high out-of-school rates. The department reported that 37% of children in the province are not enrolled in any educational institution. Some districts, like Kolai-Palas Kohistan and Lower Kohistan, show enrolment rates as low as 20%.
With over 500,000 children out of school in Peshawar alone—many of them girls—the report calls attention to the urgent need for action to ensure safe, inclusive, and accessible education for all.