• 70% Schools without Security Guards, Peons and Sanitary Workers
• A Report Based on the Monitoring of 152 Boys’ Primary Schools in 89 Districts across Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, November 14: More than two-thirds of the 152 boys’ primary schools in 89 districts across Pakistan were without non-teaching staff like peons, sanitary workers and security guards, according to a monitoring report issued by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) on Monday.

The report said 82% of the monitored schools were found to be operating without sanitary workers, 75% did not have security guards while there were no peons in 70% of them.

FAFEN Governance Monitors visited 152 boys’ primary schools in 89 districts across Pakistan in September 2011. In Punjab, 79 schools were visited in 35 districts; 29 in Sindh covering 19 districts, 27 in 18 districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and 14, 2 and one school in as many districts in Balochistan, FATA and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) respectively.

However, the report added that the hygienic conditions of classrooms in 73% of the monitored schools were found to be satisfactory despite the unavailability of sanitary workers, suggesting the responsibility of keeping the classrooms clean had been taken up either by the teachers or the students themselves.

Among the 152 schools monitored, a serious lack of transparency of information and availability of non-teaching staff was observed. As many as 82 schools failed to share information regarding the number of sanctioned posts and the appointed non-teaching staff.

However, among the monitored schools in Balochistan, ICT and FATA that did provide information, all sanctioned posts for non-teaching staff were occupied. In Punjab, Sindh and KP, the occupancy rate stood comparatively lower at 86%, 77% and 96% respectively.

Nationwide, the report said the situation appeared to be better with respect to the teaching staff as 144 of the schools monitored provided information on sanctioned posts and appointed teaching staff.

All the sanctioned teaching posts in schools monitored in Balochistan, ICT and FATA were filled while occupancy rates of 92%, 93% and 92% were observed in schools monitored in Punjab, Sindh and KP respectively.

As for the availability of teachers, 76% to 100% of the posted teachers were present in 113 of the monitored schools. A similar level of students’ attendance was observed in 104 of the schools monitored in September 2011.

The highest number of students-per-teacher (47) was observed in schools monitored in KP – higher than the standard official limit of 40 students-per-teacher for all government-run primary schools. In the remaining regions, the number of students-per-teacher was lower than the standard official limit – 36 in Punjab, 34 in Sindh and Balochistan, 35 in FATA and 21 in ICT.

Contrary to government policy, four of the schools monitored in Balochistan, three in Punjab and one in Sindh, charged students for textbooks which are supposed to be provided free of cost.

All the schools monitored in September 2011 were housed in proper buildings, except for three in Punjab and one in KP. Eighty per cent of the monitored schools had a boundary wall around their premises. Clean drinking water was not available in 41 of the monitored schools.

Among the monitored schools, 78% had electricity while fans were available in 68% of the classrooms. The classrooms of 83% of the monitored schools were well lit.

A black/white board was available in the classrooms of 91% of the schools monitored. However, other necessary items, like proper sitting arrangements (desks and benches) were not available in classrooms of 46% schools under study. Moreover, 21% of the schools did not have desks and chairs for teachers while 78% were without staff rooms. Despite the importance of physical education for children, 60% of the 152 boys’ primary schools monitored nationwide did not have playgrounds.

The report in June to August this year, Executive District Officers (EDOs) for Education and other officials made 53 visits to all the monitored schools.

To download complete report, click here