Concerned over the worsening state of education in Mohmand district, youth leaders, students, social activists, and representatives of political parties have urged the government to declare an Education Emergency and take immediate steps to bring thousands of out-of-school children into classrooms.
Youth Conference Demands Action
The demand was made at a youth conference titled “Education for All,” organised by the Mohmand Students Union with the support of the District Youth Office at the Jawan Markaz in Captain Roohullah Shaheed Sports Stadium, Ghalanai. The event brought together representatives of various political, social, and youth organisations, including the Awami National Party (ANP), Mohmand Political Alliance, National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), Insaf Youth Wing, Sahar Welfare Organisation, Karwan-i-Rehman, Jamiat Talaba Islam, Mohmand Press Club, Tehreek Tahaffuz Huqooq Mohmand, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and other civil society groups.
Alarming Out-of-School Numbers
Speaking on the occasion, participants expressed serious concern over what they described as the deteriorating educational situation in the district. They said that more than 115,000 children in Mohmand were currently out of school, depriving an entire generation of access to education and future opportunities. The speakers noted that despite an official target of enrolling 22,000 children under a recent school enrolment campaign, only a fraction of the target had been achieved, reflecting deep-rooted challenges facing the education sector.
Infrastructure and Staff Shortages
Participants pointed to inadequate infrastructure in existing schools, including shortages of classrooms, furniture, electricity, clean drinking water, science laboratories, libraries, and digital learning facilities. They stressed that the absence of such basic amenities was contributing significantly to low enrolment and high dropout rates. The conference highlighted a severe shortage of teaching staff, particularly in science, mathematics, English, and computer science subjects. Speakers called on the provincial government to fill vacant posts on an urgent basis and ensure the provision of qualified teachers in all educational institutions across the district.
Call for Corporate Social Responsibility
A major focus of the discussion was the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in promoting education. Participants argued that while hundreds of mining leaseholders and contractors were benefiting from the district’s natural resources and development projects, local communities were receiving little support in return. They urged the district administration and relevant authorities to establish a transparent CSR framework under which a portion of corporate funds would be allocated to education, healthcare, environmental protection, and social welfare initiatives.
