Mehrab Afridi
LANDIKOTAL: The situation of girls education in Landikotal tehsil of Khyber tribal district is disappointing, while the authorities concerned have turned a blind eye towards the situation.
Schools record showed that there were 76 female students in Landikotal who passed the F.Sc exam, but could not get further education during the last five years as there is not even a single degree college for women in the whole sub-division. In 2016, 19 girls students, 13 in 2017, 15 in 2018, 17 in 2019 and 12 students in 2020 passed the F.Sc exams after which they had to sit at home and could not continue their education.
Maria Rehman, a student who left education after passing intermediate exam, told TNN that she will feel the pain of leaving her education throughout her life. She said she also had some dreams about getting higher education like other girls of the country, which were shattered due to lack of facilities. She said that despite strict tribal culture, she managed to get education till F.Sc, but now her family cannot afford to send her to Peshawar for higher education. She said she could have managed higher education by earning through tuitions if there was a degree college in her area.
According to Khyber district education department, there is only one higher secondary school for girls in the whole tehsil having a population of 250,000. About 20 girls pass F.Sc exam from the school every year, but could not get further education due to lack of any degree college. Social circles believe that this is a huge loss for the society that women are kept deprived of higher education.
Gul Muhammad, a local trader, said while talking to TNN that his daughter passed the F.Sc exam, but he cannot afford to send her to Peshawar. He said it was even a difficult task to educate his daughter in a tribal society. He said some people are also not sending their daughters to Peshawar due to cultural impediments. He said people will send the girls to college if it is built in Landikotal.
The principal of the higher secondary school said it is unfortunate that the local girls are not getting opportunities for higher education. He said his school can initiate degree classes if the lawmakers make efforts in this regard.
Local MPA Shafiq Sher Afridi said there is no doubt that facilities for girls education in Landiktoal must improve. He said efforts are continuing in this regard and the area people will soon hear a good news.
