Hundreds of schools in KP still without boundary walls

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is pressing the private schools to take security measures but hundreds of public sector schools in the province are without boundary walls that can cause a serious threat to thousands of kids.
The police in a number of districts have conveyed to the provincial government and the Education Department through official letters to construct boundary walls of educational institutions as kids are exposed to threats.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government ordered beefing up security in and around thousands of public and private sector schools following threats of attacks like that of the Army Public School and College on December 16 that killed 150 people, including 135 kids.
In one of the many letters, the district police officer (DPO) of Lakki Marwat has informed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa secretary education that around 150 schools in his southern district are without boundary walls.
“There are around 150 schools without boundary walls where thousands of students are exposed to any untoward incident. The absence of boundary walls also diminishes the administration’s capacity to secure its premises during school timing and at night,” said the letter sent by Lakki Marwat DPO Mohammad Ismail Khaarak to the KP secretary education.
The official asked the Education Department authorities to immediately construct boundary walls of the schools to protect the kids from any attack. Lakki Marwat is not the only district where thousands of children are studying in schools that don’t have boundary walls and rooms. There are several other districts where hundreds of schools are without boundary walls.
The DPOs have conveyed to the officials concerned to construct boundary walls and other measures for security of these schools. The police in several districts are visiting schools, colleges and universities to inspect the security arrangements made by respective managements. Many private sector educational institutions have been warned against inadequate security.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police authorities during a campaign inspected 2153 schools and colleges over the weekend. The officials said institutions were advised to beef up security arrangements.
The provincial government has announced to allow teachers in the public and private sector schools to carry guns for security in the wake of the Army Public School and College attack. The decision is being widely criticised as it is feared to have negative impact on the education of millions of kids all over the province. A number of schools have set up pickets near their entrances where the students enter premises under the shadow of guards armed with automatic rifles.