rawalpindi - A government girls high school is facing shortage of teaching staff and other basic facilities like furnished classrooms and computer/science laboratories.

A large number of small girls are receiving education while sitting in open veranda in hot weather. Besides, the school has become vulnerable to any possible terrorist attack because there is no boundary wall or fence on the backside of the school. The other sides of the boundary walls are also not high.

Despite growing need for greater security measures at educational institutions, the district government and other law-enforcement agencies have badly failed to provide adequate security to the school enrolling some 1,200 students and staff.

According to details, Government Girls High School, Dhaman Syedan, has been facing acute shortage of teaching staff, classrooms, computer and science laboratories but the government and Punjab Education Department are paying no heed towards the lingering issues. No proper security arrangements are made to secure the students from any mishap.

The students of Government Girls High School and their parents, while talking to The Nation, complained that the school is facing shortage of teachers for teaching the subjects of science, physics and mathematics.

At present, almost 1,200 female students are being imparted education in 15 classrooms that are too in a shambles, they said. They expressed great concern over the fact that only one teacher is taking class (7th class) of 96 students as a result of which the future of students seems bleak.

They said that due to shortage of classrooms, the female students of class 6th are being taught in an open veranda. The parents and students said that the boundary wall of the school is not up to the standard and the school has no back boundary wall. The school could be an easy target of terrorists, they feared.

Talking to The Nation, Savera, a 6th class student who was doing her work in veranda with other class fellows, said that she has no classroom. “It is difficult for me to sit here in hot weather. The government should provide us classroom so that we can fully concentrate on our education,” she said.

“I am also feeling heat while sitting in veranda as sunlight hits us directly. We need a classroom. The government is requested to look into our maladies and build classroom for us,” said Mahnoor, another 6th class student.

Since there is no teacher for science and mathematics subjects in the school, the parents are compelled to send their daughters for tuition in private academies, said Safia Begum, the mother of a 9th class student.

School Principle Robina Afzal, when contacted, admitted the shortage of classrooms and teaching staff. She said that the school needs more classrooms immediately to accommodate the students. She said that the government should upgrade the school, besides constructing more classrooms.

Executive District Officer (EDO) Education Qazi Zahoor-ul-Haq, when contacted for his comments on the issue, said that he has no knowledge about the classrooms and teaching staff shortage in the said school.

He said the staff shortage would end soon as the government is recruiting new educators. Nonetheless, he said, the education department has no additional funds for construction of classrooms. “The top most priority of the government at present is to renovate dangerous school buildings in the province,” Qazi informed. He said the security of the school would be enhanced.