DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A structural safety audit of 8,928 government schools across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has raised serious concerns about educational infrastructure, with 2,448 school buildings declared unsafe and another 2,344 requiring repairs.
According to the audit report, the assessment was conducted following the Dir Colony tragedy in Peshawar. The findings indicate that thousands of school buildings need urgent attention to ensure the safety of students, teachers and other staff.
More Than Half of Audited Schools Face Safety Concerns
The audit found that a total of 4,792 school buildings require immediate safety measures or necessary repairs, while 4,027 were declared structurally safe.
The figures suggest that approximately 53.7% of the audited schools have been identified as unsafe or in need of repairs, highlighting significant concerns about the condition of public educational facilities across the province.
The findings underscore the need for authorities to prioritize structural assessments, repairs and other safety measures to reduce risks within school premises.
Academic Activities Suspended in Unsafe Schools
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Elementary and Secondary Education Department had reportedly issued directives days earlier ordering the immediate suspension of academic activities in schools declared unsafe.
The measure aims to prevent students and teachers from being exposed to potentially dangerous buildings while the relevant authorities address the identified risks.
Urgent Action Needed to Protect Students
The audit has highlighted the need for timely repairs, effective implementation of safety directives and continued monitoring of school infrastructure across KP.
Ensuring safe classrooms and school buildings remains essential to protecting children and education staff and maintaining uninterrupted access to education in the province.