A reasonable student to teacher ratios was observed in 103 out of 147 state-run primary girls' schools monitored nation-wide in October but continue to lack essential facilities, according to a report released by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) on Monday.
The report said that in 67 schools in Punjab, on average, one teacher is available to 34 students, and in 36 schools in Sindh, on average, one teacher was available to 27 students. However, on average, 40 students were the responsibility of one teacher in 29 schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 41 in 12 schools in Balochistan and 72 in three schools in Fata.
FAFEN Governance Monitors visited 147 schools in 89 districts nation-wide - 67 of them in 30 districts in Punjab, 36 in 23 districts in Sindh, 29 in 21 districts in KP, 12 in as many districts in Balochistan and three in as many agencies in Fata. Attendance of teachers was between 76 percent and 100 percent at 77 percent of the monitored schools while the same attendance ratio was maintained by students at 63 percent schools. Nation-wide, 41 teaching posts were vacant in 137 monitored schools, which shared this information. With regard to the non-teaching staff, 131 schools did not have sanitary workers. However, 132 were found to be clean, hinting they were cleaned by the students themselves. 89 schools did not have security guards while 17 were without boundary walls.
The report said that at-least 80 percent schools out of the 147 monitored did not have staff-rooms for teachers. There were no desks and chairs for students in 48 percent of the schools while a fifth did not have any for teachers. 19 schools nation-wide lacked black/white boards and 44 percent did not have arrangements for clean drinking water for students. Moreover, despite the acknowledged importance of physical education and exercise for both girls and boys, two-thirds of the monitored schools lacked playgrounds for students.
40 schools nation-wide were without electricity while 67 percent of those in Balochistan, at least 30 percent in Punjab and Sindh and 17 percent in KP did not have fans. In addition, 23 schools were not well lit. In the absence of electricity it is especially important that classrooms be well lit.
Elected representatives and governments officials made 92 visits to 147 schools in the past three months. Two visits were made by MNAs, both to the schools in Punjab, while one was made by an MPA, also in the same province. Other elected representatives (ex-nazims etc) made five visits, all in Punjab. The Executive District Officers/Education made 23 visits. Other government officials made 61 visits. The report said greater government oversight is needed to monitor and rectify lack of crucial non-teaching staff like security guards and other considerations of physical infrastructure.