PESHAWAR: At least 3,796 government schools across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are without electricity, highlighting a major infrastructure gap in the province’s education sector, according to an Education Department report.
The report revealed that 3,796 of the province’s 34,784 government schools lack electricity, accounting for more than 11 percent of the total.
Mansehra has the highest number of schools without power, with 202 schools affected. It is followed by Upper Kohistan with 191, Upper South Waziristan with 124, Buner with 117, Lower Kohistan with 92 and Kolai-Palas with 89.
The report also found that 66 schools in Bannu, 55 in Mohmand and 53 in Dera Ismail Khan are operating without electricity.
The disparity is particularly stark in the merged districts. Of the 6,223 government schools located there, 2,183 or around 35 percent have no electricity. In comparison, only 1,613 of 27,679 schools in the settled districts, or approximately 5.8 percent, lack the facility.
Upper Kohistan has emerged as one of the areas facing the most serious electricity shortages in schools.
The problem is especially widespread at the primary level. Across the province, 2,213 boys’ primary schools and 1,085 girls’ primary schools have no electricity.
Among the merged districts, Upper South Waziristan has 124 schools without electricity, followed by Bajaur with 91, Sub-Division Wazir in Bannu with 75, Mohmand with 55, Orakzai with 51 and Kurram with 33.
The figures underscore the continuing shortage of basic infrastructure in KP’s education system, with schools in remote and merged districts facing the greatest challenges in accessing essential facilities.
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