SWABI: The district administration has sealed around 120 schools in Swabi after inspections found structural safety concerns in several educational buildings. Most of the affected institutions are privately operated schools.
The inspection campaign is underway across all four tehsils of the district. Authorities are examining government and private schools to identify buildings that could put students and teachers at risk.
Deputy Commissioner Nasarullah Khan said inspection teams had checked 1,224 schools out of approximately 2,000 public and private educational institutions in the district. Around 120 schools were sealed after officials identified unsafe building conditions.
During the inspections, teams found cracks in walls and classrooms at several institutions. Officials considered these buildings unsuitable for educational activities until the identified problems are addressed.
The campaign follows a deadly school roof collapse in Peshawar on October 15. The incident at Al-Khair Education Centre in Dir Colony killed 30 students and a female teacher, according to figures reported by Dawn. The tragedy prompted authorities to increase scrutiny of school buildings across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Assistant commissioners from Swabi’s four tehsils are leading the inspection teams. The district administration has directed them to examine educational institutions without discrimination and take action wherever buildings are found unsafe.
According to the deputy commissioner, inspections will continue until all schools in the district have been checked. The remaining institutions will also undergo assessments to identify structural weaknesses and other potential hazards.
The administration has also issued instructions to reduce disruption to students’ education. Children enrolled in sealed government schools are to be accommodated in nearby educational institutions so they can continue attending classes.
Private school administrations have been directed to arrange suitable alternative buildings and shift their students there. They must also complete the necessary repairs to their existing premises.
Schools whose buildings have been sealed will not be allowed to resume classes at those locations until the required renovation work is completed. They must obtain clearance from the district administration before reopening.
The measures are intended to prevent students and teachers from entering buildings considered unsafe while allowing educational activities to continue through alternative arrangements.
Swabi has approximately 2,000 government and private schools, with 1,224 inspected at the time of the deputy commissioner’s statement. The administration has not announced a final date for completing the remaining inspections.
The number of sealed institutions may change as the campaign progresses. Authorities are continuing the checks to assess school infrastructure and identify buildings requiring repairs.
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The action highlights growing attention to school building safety in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the Peshawar tragedy. For affected schools, reopening will depend on completing the required repairs and receiving official approval from the district administration.
