KP Education Department Issues Safety Directives and Allows UNICEF School Visits

What happened

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Elementary and Secondary Education Department has issued several directives regarding school monitoring and infrastructure safety:

• UNICEF School Visits: The department has allowed staff recruited by UNICEF to visit selected schools. These visits are intended to monitor and verify ongoing activities and ensure they continue without interruption [1]. All district education officers have been directed to cooperate with UNICEF staff during these visits [1].

• School Building Safety: Following a roof collapse at a private school in Peshawar, the department has ordered authorities to take immediate measures to protect students and staff [2].

• Safety Survey and Verification: In a first phase, a survey will be conducted for schools identified as high risk via media reports and other sources [2]. The Directorate of Education, all male and female district education officers, and field officers must verify complaints, videos, photographs, and reports regarding unsafe buildings [2]. These reports may come from digital and conventional media, departmental channels, or social media accounts belonging to the Elementary and Secondary Education Department, the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Adviser on Education, and the Adviser on Information and Public Relations [2].

• Suspension of Classes: Teaching activities must be suspended immediately in any building declared dangerous or unsafe [2]. Students must be moved to nearby schools or other safe locations [2]. Classes can only resume after repairs are finished and a technical authority certifies the building as safe [2].

• Repair Process: Repairs will be prioritized through coordination between the Planning Wing of the Elementary and Secondary Education Department, technical institutions, and the Communication and Works Department [2]. For major structural defects, authorities will seek technical assessments and corrective measures [2].

• Reporting Deadlines: All districts were directed to submit comprehensive reports to the department by 12 noon on October 21, 2026 [2]. These reports must include details on inspections, identified unsafe buildings, suspended teaching activities, student relocation arrangements, and corrective actions taken [2]. Officials must also maintain records of all complaints, inspections, risk assessments, and actions [2].

Who is affected

• Students and Staff: Those in schools identified as high risk or those in buildings declared unsafe [2].
• UNICEF Staff: Recruited personnel authorized to visit selected schools for monitoring [1].
• Education Officials: Including the Directorate of Education, all male and female district education officers, and relevant field officers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [1, 2].
• School Locations: Selected schools for UNICEF monitoring and high-risk schools across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [1, 2].

What students should do next

• If a school building is declared dangerous or unsafe, students must be relocated to nearby schools or other safe locations as directed by authorities [2].