Annual School Census in Dadu District Reveals Widespread Lack of Basic Facilities in Government Schools
- Out of 1,698 Govt. Schools, 72 have no building, 33 schools are run under the trees, and 439 buildings have been declared dangerous, posing serious safety risks to students and staff
- 843 schools lack drinking water facilities. Electricity is unavailable in 826 schools, 268 schools do not have toilets for students.
By Allah Bux Khushik
Dadu, Sindh
A comprehensive annual census of government schools in Dadu has laid bare a distressing picture of neglected infrastructure and missing basic facilities across the district.
The district’s Chief Monitoring Officer (CMO) of Education, Deen Muhammad Shahani, prepared a detailed monitoring report after inspecting 1,698 government schools, and the document has now been shared with the Education Department, the Deputy Commissioner, and other relevant authorities.
According to the census report, 1504 schools are run in their own government buildings while 64 schools exist in shared government buildings. One school is run in a rented house while three each in madressas and mosques. Overall 72 schools have no buildings, 32 schools have katcha structure of mud bricks, and 33 schools have makeshift arrangements, 6 schools are run in tents and 33 under the trees.
The key points of the report are:
Dangerous buildings: Of the inspected schools, 439 buildings have been declared dangerous, posing serious safety risks to students and staff. In addition, 138 school buildings were found to be partially dangerous.
No building on site: 72 schools operate without any building at all, forcing the use of inadequate makeshift arrangements for classes.
Closed facilities: Due to the absence of essential facilities, 49 schools have been completely closed, and 20 temporary schools have also been closed.
Ongoing construction: 56 schools are still under construction, indicating delays in getting needed facilities into operation.
Boundary walls: 558 schools do not have boundary walls, and 98 have boundary walls in dangerous condition, compromising security and discipline.
Water and utilities: A staggering 843 schools lack drinking water facilities. Electricity is unavailable in 826 schools, and 162 schools have severely limited access to power.
Sanitation and furniture: A substantial number of schools lack toilets for students, and many lack essential furniture required for teaching and learning; 268 schools do not have toilets for students.
Overall impact: The monitoring team’s findings underscore that the quality of education cannot improve unless basic facilities are provided and unsafe or non-operational structures are addressed promptly.
Implications and urgent call to action
Education experts have warned that the ongoing deficiencies threaten not only student safety but also learning outcomes and the district’s educational future. The CMOs office notes that delays in repair work and the provision of facilities may pose a serious risk to thousands of students’ futures if immediate action is not taken.
Administrative response
The Chief Monitoring Officer stated that the complete report has been forwarded to key authorities, including the Deputy Commissioner, the District Education Officer, and the XEN Works, for immediate action. The report emphasizes that timely repairs, construction completions, and provision of essential facilities are critical to safeguarding students and improving the quality of education in Dadu.
These findings come amid broader nationwide concerns about the state of government school infrastructure in various regions. In Dadu, the scale of deficiencies highlighted by this census indicates systemic challenges requiring coordinated, timely interventions from district and provincial authorities.
Let’s watch whether the Deputy Commissioner and District Education Office announce a concrete action plan with timelines and budget allocations; Updates on the status of the 439 dangerous buildings and the 72 schools operating without any building; Progress in completing the 56 ongoing construction projects and repairs for the 314 urgent repair sites; and initiatives to install boundary walls, provide drinking water, electricity, toilets, and furniture across affected schools.
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