27% of audited schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa declared unsafe after Peshawar collapse

More than one in four schools inspected in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have been declared structurally unsafe, according to an official report. The audit followed the Oct. 15 collapse of Al-Khair Education System School in Peshawar, which killed 33 children and a teacher. Authorities have ordered students moved out of dangerous buildings.

Which schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been declared unsafe?

Inspectors have completed structural checks at 8,928 of the province's 64,167 educational institutions. Of those, 2,448 (27.4%) were declared unsafe, 2,344 (26.3%) need repairs and 4,027 (45.1%) were declared safe. The Communication and Works Department conducted the inspections, and the audit is still underway.

Why did Khyber Pakhtunkhwa launch a school safety audit?

The provincial government ordered a structural safety audit of public and private educational institutions after the collapse at Al-Khair Education System School in Peshawar's Dir Colony. The Oct. 15 collapse killed 33 children and a teacher and injured dozens.

The Communication and Works Department said it would submit its final report to the provincial government once all inspections are completed.

How many schools and students are there in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?

According to the Elementary and Secondary Education Department, the province has 64,167 educational institutions. They include 34,784 government schools, 11,542 private schools and 12,989 religious seminaries, or madrasas. A further 4,852 are classed as other institutions.

Together, these institutions have an enrollment of 9,587,140 students.

What happens to students in unsafe school buildings?

Following the initial audit findings, the provincial Education Department directed all District Education Officers to relocate students from schools and sections of buildings classified as unsafe. A circular issued to district officials ordered them to vacate dangerous buildings or portions of school premises and move students to secure classrooms.

"Students must be shifted either to safe buildings within the same school or to nearby government schools," the circular stated. It further directed officials to arrange rented premises if no government school was available nearby.