KP orders safety surveys of schools following fatal building collapse

What happened

Following a roof collapse at a private school in Peshawar’s Dir Colony that resulted in the deaths of several children, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has ordered a province-wide safety assessment. The incident, which claimed the lives of 30 students and one teacher, prompted Khyber Deputy Commissioner Shahid Ali to direct authorities to inspect educational institutions [3].

In response, the government has initiated the following actions:

• The Department of Communication and Works (C&W) has been directed to inspect government school buildings to assess their condition [2]. Government schools are required to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from this department [2].
• A survey of approximately 12,500 private schools has been ordered, with a report due within four days, according to an Advisory Council member [2].
• In Khyber, three committees consisting of assistant commissioners from Landi Kotal, Bara, and Jamrud, along with officials from the education, communication and works, and tehsil municipal administration departments, were formed to inspect buildings [3].
• Authorities in Landi Kotal, Bara, and Jamrud have already sealed five private schools after finding them in extremely poor condition, including buildings with crumbling walls and roofs made only of bamboo [3].
• The Private Schools Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has been directed to draft new safety regulations. These will cover building standards, inspections, classroom capacity, and emergency evacuation arrangements [1].

Data from the provincial Education Department indicates that 36,967 classrooms in government schools are in a dilapidated state [1]. Of these, 19,224 classrooms require reconstruction and 17,743 require repairs [1]. Education Department Director Jaffar Mansoor stated that 1,000 new classrooms are currently being built using parent-teacher council funds [1].

Who is affected

• Students and teachers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are affected by the building safety assessments [2].
• Students currently studying in buildings deemed unfit for use will be transferred to other schools to ensure their education continues [2].
• The 34,784 government schools in the province are subject to inspections by the C&W department [1].
• The 11,542 registered private schools in KP are subject to the upcoming survey and new PSRA regulations [1].
• Private schools in the tehsils of Landi Kotal, Bara, and Jamrud are undergoing inspections by local committees [3].