GHALANAI, Nov 9: The Mohmand Agency political administration, education department and security forces have decided to reopen all educational institutions, including Lakaro Degree College, in Safi teshil from Nov 15 after the reconstruction of their buildings targeted by militants.

These educational institutions have been closed for four years.

The decision was made during a meeting here at the agency headquarters on Saturday.

The meeting was attended by officials of political administration, education department and security forces.

Officials in the education department said 30 government schools destroyed by militants in Safi had yet to be reconstructed leaving thousands of children without education.

Agency Education Officer Said Mohammad told Dawn that the meeting decided to reopen all closed schools in the tehsil from Nov 15.

He said the education department had directed all teachers to report to the respective schools forthwith.

The AEO said 90 teachers of the closed schools were transferred temporarily to the schools, which were open in Safi tehsil.

It may be recalled that two high, three middle, 25 primary schools and Lakaro Degree College remained closed for four years. The staf f of these schools was sent to other schools in the region.

Lecturers of Degree College, Lakaro were asked to report to Government College of Management Sciences in Ghalanai.

The AEO said all teachers were ordered to assume duty at their schools until Nov 15 and that strict action would be taken against those not complying with the orders.

He said over 50 educational institutions had been damaged by militants in Safi tehsil and 30 of them, including Lakaro Degree College, two high schools, three middle and 25 primary schools, were still closed due to delay in reconstruction.

Mr Said Mohammad said the military officials had promised to provide 90 tents to the schools targeted and damaged by militancy, while alternative arrangements were also being made for the early reopening of the closed schools.

He said the security forces also had agreed to vacate educational institutions, including Degree College, Lakaroto, and thus, leveling ground for their reopening.

The AEO said overall, 120 schools had been destroyed and 14 of them had been reconstructed until now, while cases of 28 damaged schools for reconstruction had been sent to the Fata education department for action.

Mr Said Mohammad said there were 540 government educational institutions in the agency, while around 140 more teachers were needed by them.

ABSENTEE TEACHERS WARNED: Assistant Political Agent of Biazai Zeeshan Abdullah Mehsud on Friday warned teachers of Khwezai and Biazai areas to end absenteeism or face action.

Mr Abdullah told Dawn that most teachers of Khwezai and Biazai schools had settled abroad but had been receiving salary every month.

`Absenteeism of teachers at schools is deplorable,` he said.

He said absenteeism at hospitals was also rife and that he recently recommended strict action against four absentee female teachers and two medical technicians to the higher authorities.

The APA said he won`t spare those absenting themselves from duty without reason.