Primary school near Pak-Afghan border lacks facilities

LANDIKOTAL: The Government Primary School for Boys in Awal Khan Killay located near the Pak-Afghan border lacked basic facilities and teaching staff, residents said on Sunday.

Awal Khan was the batman of General Ziaul Haq when the latter was serving as captain in the Landikotal Army garrison. It is said that Gen Ziaul Haq at the time of his retirement had asked Awal Khan that what he wanted in recognition of his services.

It was learnt that Awal Khan had requested General Ziaul Haq to help build a road to his village Kharghali, the last border village situated at Gharghali hills sharing a border with Afghanistan. To recognise the services of the batman, the village was named after Awal Khan and the Government Primary School was built in 1985.

Talking to The News, an elder Gul Shah Khan said the government also established a primary school for girls in Awal Khan Killay. He said 240 girls were enrolled in the school. He said most of the girls had to quit studies after grade five as there was no middle or high school for them.

Gul Shah Khan said only three teachers each were posted in the boys and girls schools who were not enough to teach four hundred students. He asked the government to appoint at least two more teachers and construct hostels for them.

Other residents said that more than four hundred boys were enrolled in the Government Primary School for Boys. They said they could not send their children to schools in Landikotal city due to poverty and joblessness.