By: Anwar Zada Gulyar
BAJAUR: Education is often described as the backbone of any society, yet in Pakistan’s tribal districts, this pillar has long remained fragile. Bajaur is among those regions where militancy, military operations, landmines, and natural disasters crippled the education system for years. Parents lived in constant anxiety about their children’s future, for schools were unsafe and teachers were far from secure.
In such a fragile context, the recent settlement of 150,000 displaced persons (TDPs) in Mamond tehsil presented yet another daunting challenge. Fears grew that the wheel of education might come to a grinding halt once more, plunging the younger generation into another era of darkness. But this time, the outcome was different. Initially, government schools and colleges were used to shelter the displaced families, temporarily disrupting educational activities. Yet soon, the district administration departed from convention and placed education at the heart of its recovery strategy. Against all odds, 80 percent of Bajaur’s government schools reopened.
This was not a symbolic announcement but the result of a well-coordinated and comprehensive plan. Deputy Commissioner Shahid Ali Khan, Assistant Commissioner Khar Sadiq Ali, and the Department of Education jointly crafted decisions that lit candles of hope in the midst of crisis. Instead of keeping schools shut, the administration explored dual functionality. Some schools were shifted to nearby community halls and hujras; in other cases, students continued their lessons under the shade of trees. Extra classrooms and playgrounds were repurposed into temporary shelters for displaced families. Thus, in the same courtyards, children immersed themselves in books by day while families lit their stoves by night. The scene stands as proof that when intent is sincere, scarcity of resources cannot block the way forward.
Parents’ reactions to this initiative have been overwhelmingly positive. One father expressed it best: “Our children’s future is our only asset. With schools reopening, we finally have the peace of mind that our next generation will not be lost to darkness.” The enthusiasm of the students is equally striking. Sitting on the bare ground, revising lessons beneath open skies, these children are making a clear statement: despite hardships, their bond with education will never be broken.
Undoubtedly, reopening 80 percent of schools is a significant achievement, but the journey is far from complete. The remaining 20 percent remain non-functional and require urgent resources and attention. Seasonal floods, heavy rains, and the continued influx of displaced persons still pose formidable challenges. Yet, the administration has set a powerful precedent—one that can be built upon to overcome the remaining obstacles.
Bajaur’s story is not confined to a single district; it carries lessons for the entire country. Pakistan is already in the midst of an educational emergency, with 26 million children out of school. Against this backdrop, Bajaur’s model demonstrates that the impossible can indeed be made possible—if leadership combines resolve, courage, and sincerity of purpose.
The reopening of schools in Bajaur is more than an educational milestone; it is both an administrative and social triumph. It proves that recovery and rehabilitation need not come at the cost of education. For the future generations, it is a promise of hope and a reminder that no matter how severe the crisis, the light of learning must never be extinguished.
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