TIMERGARA: The people of Bala Banda and other remote villages in Khall tehsil on Monday organised a march to demand upgradation of the local Maktab school.

The protesters, including boys and girls, gathered at Gopalum and marched on the area road for over five kilometers, chanting slogans against the government and the education department for closing down the Maktab schools in the province.

The Bala Banda village falls in Lower Dir district but its people are registered as voters in Upper Dir. The villagers complained that both the district administrations treated them unfairly.

They said the school established 24 years ago had no building and had a single teacherfor160 students.

Schoolteacher Fahim Khan said though he had to walk for eight kilometers daily to reach school, he was pleased to impart education to children of the far flung village. He said he had to teach five classes but he was happy with his job.

The protesters dispersed afterassistant district officer education Tahir Khan, assistant commissioner Shah Jamil Khan and police officials held talks with them assured to take up the issue with the authorities concerned.

Meanwhile, the girls students of the University of Malakand on Monday complained about lack of drinking water and lighting facilities at their hostels for last one week.

In a statement, they said they had raised the issue with the university administration but to no avail. The girl students requesting not to be named said their annual examinations were commencing next week but due to lack of drinking water and lighting facilities they could not prepare well for examinations. Correspondent