Transitional school gives hope to ambitious students

Following the 2005 earthquake the Government of Pakistan hoped to reconstruct all the affected schools within five years, however harsh weather, difficult terrain, isolated villages and the need to build seismic resistant buildings significantly slowed the reconstruction process. It became obvious in the first two years that the five-year target would not be met but at the same time, tented schools proved desperately inadequate in such harsh conditions.

World Vision Pakistan’s Education Programme stepped in to assist the Government in reviving destroyed schools through the construction of transitional schools in remote areas. World Vision UK responded immediately with funding (US$91,750) to enable children to have access to regular education in a safe and comfortable environment.

I love my school and I never miss a single day here Three schools for 250 students were constructed in the three high altitude villages of Moom Chatti, Patika and village Lower Bella in Balakot, a sub-district of Mansehra in the NWFP that was arguably hardest hit by the quake.

“It is indeed a marvel what World Vision has done for us. In the past years, it was very difficult for my students to attend school regularly as the tattered tent schools could not face the weather due to which parents preferred to keep their children at home doing housework, or rebuilding their homes and ultimately engaging them to save an asset of the family”, explains school teacher Abdul Qadir from Patika village.

Qadir continues, “As a result of low or no attendance, teachers gradually lost their interest, which resulted in absenteeism and a passive attitude. By providing better facilities like this beautiful school and training both the community as well as teachers, we have regained confidence so that the education sector has regained the importance it should always have”.

The transitional schools are guaranteed for five years and are designed to last up to 30 years. Each school comprises two spacious rooms measuring 25x18ft, which can be further divided into two rooms. They also feature a separate office/staff room for teachers which teachers didn’t previously have access to. But most important is the thick layer of thermo pole sheeting which insulates the structure and makes it weather resistant – an absolute necessity in these villages located at between 5,000 and 7,000 feet.

Each school has two wash rooms and a supply of drinking water through bored wells. Electric fans will also keep students cooler in the hot, dry summers.

The schools have also been equipped with stationary, tables, chairs for teachers and children and teaching aids like blackboards and informative charts on the walls.

“Our area is very poor both financially and in terms of resources. Everything has an extra cost embedded with its original price, just to bring it to our door steps. I never thought that my children could have such a beautiful school, in fact; I have never seen a building like it in my life”, shares Zulekha bibi, a mother of five children from Moom Chatti village.

”I don’t have words to explain how awesome it is but the most important thing is, I am so overwhelmed with the continuity of my children’s education. In every prayer, I always ask for prosperity and success for all those who have given us this opportunity and all those hands who contributed their hard earned money”, she adds.

Transitional schools are also key to ensuring the capacity building of teachers. World Vision Pakistan has conducted a series of 3-day training sessions for teachers on how to use innovative teaching techniques. Six teachers from these schools have received training and have also been equipped with teaching kits consisting of modules, visual charts and supplies, stationery, and books to help them improve their teaching methodologies.

“I never thought that after such a big tragedy, our lives could come back to normal pace. It’s unbelievable to see children coming to school every day, with joy and cheer all around. Everyone has a strong ownership associated with such a beautiful structure which is also safe and comfortable. I feel more confident than before as I have attended a number of training sessions. Long live World Vision”, says Abdul Rehman, a Government Primary School teacher from Moom Chatti village.

It’s unbelievable to see children coming to school every day, with joy and cheer all around The formation of Parent Teacher Councils (PTC) in each village has radically transformed attitudes among teachers and parents. Some 15 parent teacher members in each PTC monitor the presence of both teachers and students and also play an active part in ensuring that the structures are well maintained, the schools are running properly and standards upheld. They also play an important role in managing gender biases and in representing schools in the Village Organisations.

World Vision has also played an important role in the capacity building of PTC’s as part of strengthening the education system by providing training in record keeping, disaster preparedness planning, child protection and safety procedures.

“The Parent Teacher Council is a very strong socio-political forum for us. In our areas Indigenous culture and customs control options of families for their children. In many cases, children have been forced to take on greater responsibilities as the result of losing assets. Some parents are less willing to send the girls to school if it requires walking a further distance. Some of the schools in the area accommodate both males and females in the same school, which was a cause for concern within some communities”, explains Zulfiqar, Chairman of the the Village Organisation in Bella.

He continues, “Prior to the earthquake, the teachers in the schools were not from within the communities which led to a high percentage of time where the teachers were not actually at the schools conducting classes. Now we are seriously taking into consideration our prejudiced customs, which hindered female education, co-education at least at primary level and overall human rights issues. World Vision has really given us a way to lead our lives”.

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