DERA ISMAIL KHAN – Thousands of children who fled war-ravaged Waziristan with their parents are going to resume their education after the government decided to accommodate them in hundreds of state and private schools in nearby districts. "This is great news for me and my colleagues, who have been worried about their education," Haneef Khan, a ninth grader student, told IslamOnline after registering at a local school.
Khan is staying at a shelter camp in the suburbs of Dera Ismail Khan along with his 9-member family.
Around 250,000 people have fled South Waziristan and settled in nearby district since the army unleashed it onslaught on Taliban militants last month.
Thousands of students like Khan had to discontinue their schools and colleges as a result.
Pakistan's Future (Special Page)
Pakistan's Troubled Waziristan (Flash)
The government has issued directives to state and private schools to arrange evening shifts for the students so that they could continue their education.
Apart from government and private schools, some NGOs have set up makeshift schools where hundreds of affected students are being enrolled.
"We have informed the IDPs (internally displaced persons) to get their children registered at the registration centers or the nearby schools so that they could continue their studies, Abdul Khalique Khan, a regional director of the education department at Al-Khidmat Foundation, the country’s largest NGO, told IOL.
"I appeal to all the parents that instead of letting their children wander or stand in queues to get relief goods send them back to school," he pleaded.
"All the expenses, including tuition fees, books and stationary will be born out by the government."
Sigh of Relief
The displaced students are pleased by the government’s decision.
"It’s the only good news that I have heard in months," said a smiling Khan, who hails from Sararogha, a Taliban stronghold captured by the army earlier this week.
"I thought I would not be able to continue my education keeping the situation in my area in view. But thanks to Allah I'm going to resume my education."
Azam Khan Mehsud, an 8th grader, feels the same.
"This is a sigh of relief for us because we don’t know when we will go back to our areas and resume our studies in our schools."
Fighting is continuing between militants and troops in the streets of his Laddah area, another Taliban stronghold.
"I have no idea how long we will stay here. We and our parents were so much worried about our studies. I am so happy to go back to school."
Dr Mohammad Iqbal Khalil, the NWFP president of Al-Khidmat Foundation, says the resumption of schooling would keep the youths from falling prey to militancy.
"If they just wander or sit idle, they may be diverted to subversive activities," he told IOL.
Many have warned that unless immediate measures are taken to involve the tribal youths in educational and other healthy activities, they may fall prey to Taliban.
"We appeal to the people of Pakistan to help us send these youths to school in order to prevent them from drifting to extremism."
Source: IslamOnline
Khan is staying at a shelter camp in the suburbs of Dera Ismail Khan along with his 9-member family.
Around 250,000 people have fled South Waziristan and settled in nearby district since the army unleashed it onslaught on Taliban militants last month.
Thousands of students like Khan had to discontinue their schools and colleges as a result.
Pakistan's Future (Special Page)
Pakistan's Troubled Waziristan (Flash)
The government has issued directives to state and private schools to arrange evening shifts for the students so that they could continue their education.
Apart from government and private schools, some NGOs have set up makeshift schools where hundreds of affected students are being enrolled.
"We have informed the IDPs (internally displaced persons) to get their children registered at the registration centers or the nearby schools so that they could continue their studies, Abdul Khalique Khan, a regional director of the education department at Al-Khidmat Foundation, the country’s largest NGO, told IOL.
"I appeal to all the parents that instead of letting their children wander or stand in queues to get relief goods send them back to school," he pleaded.
"All the expenses, including tuition fees, books and stationary will be born out by the government."
Sigh of Relief
The displaced students are pleased by the government’s decision.
"It’s the only good news that I have heard in months," said a smiling Khan, who hails from Sararogha, a Taliban stronghold captured by the army earlier this week.
"I thought I would not be able to continue my education keeping the situation in my area in view. But thanks to Allah I'm going to resume my education."
Azam Khan Mehsud, an 8th grader, feels the same.
"This is a sigh of relief for us because we don’t know when we will go back to our areas and resume our studies in our schools."
Fighting is continuing between militants and troops in the streets of his Laddah area, another Taliban stronghold.
"I have no idea how long we will stay here. We and our parents were so much worried about our studies. I am so happy to go back to school."
Dr Mohammad Iqbal Khalil, the NWFP president of Al-Khidmat Foundation, says the resumption of schooling would keep the youths from falling prey to militancy.
"If they just wander or sit idle, they may be diverted to subversive activities," he told IOL.
Many have warned that unless immediate measures are taken to involve the tribal youths in educational and other healthy activities, they may fall prey to Taliban.
"We appeal to the people of Pakistan to help us send these youths to school in order to prevent them from drifting to extremism."
Source: IslamOnline
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