School building destroyed in 2011: Students in Mohmand studying under open sky

GHALLANAI: In an alarming example of official neglect, some 750 students of Government High School Qamardin in the Safi tehsil of Mohmand tribal district are attending classes under the open sky due to the lack of a proper school building.

The school building was destroyed during a terrorist incident in 2011 and has yet to be reconstructed, forcing students to study under trees or in makeshift arrangements. With no shelter, attendance drops sharply during extreme weather conditions such as heat waves or rain.

The situation recently caught public attention after a video went viral on social media, showing a snake appearing from a pile of bricks during a sixth-grade class. The incident sparked widespread concern.

Teachers and students, speaking to reporters, expressed frustration and concern over the prolonged delay in reconstruction. “We have been teaching and studying under trees for the past 14 years,” said Principal Aftab Alam. “In this modern age, it is heartbreaking to see 750 children deprived of a safe learning environment,” he added. The teachers added that the absence of a building not only affected learning but also posed safety risks. The recent snake incident has further heightened fears among both students and parents.

They appealed to public representatives and government officials to take immediate notice of the situation. “We urge the authorities to complete the building on an urgent basis so that our children can receive an education in conditions equal to those in other parts of the country,” said the principal.

The case of Qamardin High School stands as a stark reminder of the persistent infrastructural neglect in many tribal districts.