PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Elementary and Secondary Education Department has directed the Private Schools Regulatory Authority (PSRA) to prepare comprehensive safety regulations for private educational institutions to protect students and prevent a repeat of the tragic Dir Colony incident.
According to a notification, the proposed regulations will cover the structural safety of school buildings, compliance with building codes and regular safety inspections.
The rules will also set limits on the number of students allowed in classrooms and include measures to prevent overcrowding. Emergency exits and procedures for evacuating students will also be part of the regulations.
The PSRA has been directed to prepare the draft regulations in consultation with relevant technical institutions to ensure that safety standards are properly addressed.The authority will submit the draft regulations and its recommendations to the Education Department within seven days.
The move follows a tragic incident in which the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar’s Dir Colony, in which, at least 35 children and two schoolteachers were killed, while 52 others were injured the other day.
The incident has also highlighted the importance of school safety across Pakistan, particularly the need to ensure that buildings are structurally sound, meet relevant building codes and undergo regular safety inspections. Effective monitoring and timely repairs are essential to help protect students and teachers from preventable risks.
