KP Governor orders safety enforcement and inspections for schools

What happened

Following a roof collapse at Al-Khair Education System in Dir Colony that resulted in lives being lost and injuries to students and teachers, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has initiated safety inspections for school buildings. On October 15, the Elementary and Secondary Education Department issued a letter to the Communication and Works (C&W) Department requesting the nomination of qualified technical teams for every district. These teams are tasked with conducting comprehensive assessments of all government school buildings across the province in coordination with district education authorities.

Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi directed authorities on Friday to ensure the strict enforcement of safety regulations for private schools [1].

The technical teams will inspect several structural components, including:

• Roofs and ceilings
• Walls and beams
• Foundations and staircases
• Other structural elements to identify defects or maintenance issues

Inspected buildings will be classified into three specific categories:

1. Safe buildings
2. Buildings requiring repairs or improvement
3. Potentially unsafe buildings requiring urgent technical assessment

The teams must recommend specific measures for structural strengthening, rehabilitation, and implementation timelines. If a building is found to pose an imminent threat to staff or students, it must be reported immediately to district authorities with recommendations for precautionary measures, such as suspending the use of the building or restricting access. The C&W Department is required to submit comprehensive district-wise reports by October 26 at noon. These reports must detail structural deficiencies, safety classifications, and remedial measures. Additionally, teams must issue a building safety clearance certificate or no-objection certificate (NOC) for each inspected school to indicate its safety status and suitability for use.

Who is affected

• Students, teachers, and staff in government educational institutions across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
• All government school buildings, including separate institutions for boys and girls.
• The Communication and Works (C&W) Department, which must constitute the technical teams.
• District education authorities and both male and female district education officers who must coordinate with the technical teams.
• Private schools in the province, following the Governor’s directive regarding safety regulation enforcement.