Thousands of students in government schools across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are spending their entire school years without playgrounds, sports equipment, or any form of recreation, raising serious concerns about the impact on their physical and mental health.
A visit to several government boys and girls schools in Peshawar, Mardan and Haripur districts shows a common picture. Broken walls, crowded classrooms, and empty grounds filled with dust instead of children playing.
At Govt High School Bagra , Buner more than 600 students study in shifts. The school has no playground, and During the 30-minute break, students sit in their classrooms or stand in the narrow corridor because there is nowhere to play.
”We have not seen a football or cricket ground in this school for years,” said Ahmad Khan, a grade 10 student. “After 6 periods of study we just sit. Some days we go home and feel so tired and bored. We want to run and play but there is no space.”
Teachers say the lack of recreational facilities is affecting student performance. , a teacher at a girls high school in Peshawar, said children need play to stay active and focused.
”When students don’t get physical activity, they become dull in class. We keep telling the education department but nothing changes. Our budget doesn’t even cover basic repairs, how can we arrange large grounds.
Education experts warn that this is creating a generation that studies without balance. Without sports and extracurricular activities, students face higher stress, obesity, and lack of teamwork skills. In private schools, children have grounds, table tennis, and annual sports days. In most KP government schools, the only “activity” is sitting for 6 hours straight.
The KP Elementary and Secondary Education Department had announced a “Sports for All” program last year to provide grounds and equipment to 500 schools. But so far, most schools in rural and merged districts have not received anything. Principals say funds are delayed and procurement is slow.
Zakir Hussain, principal of a government middle school in Mardan with 600 students, said his school was promised a volleyball net and ground leveling two years ago. “We filled all the forms. No one came. Now the students just play with a plastic ball in the street outside after school.”
Parents are also worried. “My son comes home and stays on mobile all day because there is nothing for him at school,” said Farida Bibi from Peshawar. “School should not be only books. Children need to play, to laugh, to compete.”
Officials in the education department acknowledge the gap but cite budget constraints and lack of land in urban schools as major hurdles. They say a new proposal is being prepared to partner with local communities to build small play areas.
Until KP government schools get basic recreational facilities, thousands of children will continue to graduate without ever experiencing a proper school sports day or playing a game during break.
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