A tuition center with free education has been inaugurated by the locals in Raghzai area of lower Waziristan to improve literacy rate and quality of education in the mountainous region covering the North Waziristan and South Waziristan districts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
More than 300 students, 180 male and 120 female, of primary level are enrolled in the educational facility. The tuition center, located in Ridor village of tehsil Raghzai, was initiated by the local people on the advice of young people. Ahmadzai Arshad, manager of the center, told Jarida Today that the youth of the village came together and decided that they should do something for the education of children.
After initial discussions, he said that this was all together conveyed to the elders of the village and with the consent of all, this tuition center was initiated for both male and female students. “This is a proof of our love for education,” he said. Highlighting the structure of the camp, he said that the students from play group to grade six will get education. He said that this was a self-supporting project by the locals, independent from any other external organization.
“We have decided to educate students all subjects, including English language, and necessary Islamic education,” Ahmadzai Arshad said. “At the start, we have three teachers, two are from a government’s school while the third one is a religious expert, who will teach Islamic subjects,” he said, and pointed out state of the government-run school in the village as not so good for the schoolchildren.
“In our village, there is one government school that too is not functional while infrastructure is non-existent,” he said. On the other hand, he said that it was impossible for a poor family to pay fee of a private school in the area. “That is why we have started this learning center for all those who are interested to get admission,” he said. “After getting this work on track, we have decided to improve condition of the government school as well,” he said.
“We have a plan to submit complaints and some suggestions to the department concerned to improve the government-run school in our area,” Ahmadzai Arshad said. “We are thinking that schoolchildren of our area must attend the government-run school in day time, and then join our tuition center in the evening,” he said. Initially, “this is our first goal to spread education in the village,” he said.
In Waziristan, an entire generation has grown up while fighting the ‘war-like’ situation in their tribal area. Recently, a private educational institution for girls in North Waziristan was blown up by extremists for no reason. As many as ninety percent of the government-run schools established for girls are non-functional while private schools are non-existent. “We are facing a real threat for educational institutions,” he said.
The Army Model School is a private dedicated educational facility in the Ragzai tehsil. Apart from this, there are primary schools but no middle school. “Our Waziristan region is facing some kind of resistance from ‘un’known people regarding the education of girls,” Ahmadzai Arshad said. After the North Waziristan school incident, another under construction school in South Waziristan was also blown up by extremists.
“It is very much clear from the day one that parents are interested to educate their daughters and youngsters, especially educated youth, are also supporting girls’ education openly and consistently,” he said. The elders of the area are also working with the government officials to arrange education for all in the tribal regions. There is a hope that the federal and the provincial governments will focus on Waziristan region.
