Over 36,000 classrooms in KP government schools in dilapidated condition

PESHAWAR: More than 36,000 classrooms in government schools across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have been declared dilapidated, with nearly 19,000 requiring reconstruction, according to official sources.

A building collapse at a private school, Al-Khair Education System, in Dir Colony, on October 15 killed 34 people including 32 students aged between 7 to 13, with police citing alleged negligence and the use of substandard materials in a case against the school’s owners and contractor.

Of the 36,967 classrooms identified as being in poor condition, 19,224 need to be rebuilt, while another 17,743 require repairs, the sources said.

The sources further claimed that no government-level measures had been taken to repair the deteriorating school facilities.

Thousands of unregistered private schools operating

Thousands of unregistered private schools are also operating in the province, according to official sources, while the Private Schools Regulatory Authority (PSRA) does not have data on these institutions.

The sources said standard operating procedures (SOPs) were not being implemented in unregistered private schools. The PSRA, however, said it took action against unregistered schools when complaints were received.

According to the authority, 11,542 private schools are registered in KP.

The provincial education department said KP has 34,784 government schools.

The figures highlight concerns over the condition of public school infrastructure and the oversight of private educational institutions in the province.

FIR registered against Peshawar school owners

Police registered a first information report (FIR) against the owners, shareholders and construction of Al-Khair school.

The case was lodged on October 15, the day of the incident, at the Agha Mir Jani Shah police station. The death toll stood at 31 when the FIR was filed but later rose to 34, including 32 children and two teachers. Police initially reported another 52 people injured.

According to the FIR, complaints had previously been made about the deteriorating condition of the walls and roofs of Al-Khair Education System, but the owners allegedly failed to act on them. The report states that the roof of a second-floor nursery classroom caved in, bringing down the room directly beneath it.

Police registered the case under Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deals with causing death by a wrongful act, along with Sections 148 and 149. Authorities said efforts were under way to arrest the nominated suspects, while investigators have also collected information about the school principal and teachers.

The school stood on a 16-marla plot owned by Waheed and Javed, which was reportedly leased in 2024, after which the building was constructed. It was run by a welfare trust, Al-Khair.

The roof gave way at around 9am in the densely populated neighbourhood, and police said narrow streets leading to the school hampered rescue efforts. Capital City Police Officer Saeed Ahmad said the structure appeared to have been overloaded and pointed to the use of brick in the lintel, but the exact cause remains under investigation.

Authorities are expected to examine possible violations of building regulations, the school’s construction approvals, and whether the premises underwent mandatory safety inspections.