Girls schools in Bara non-functional for years.

LANDI KOTAL -- Scores of girls in Sheen Qamar area of Bara tehsil here have been denied their right to education due to prolonged closure of girls schools in the region.

Sources told Dawn that the government girls primary school in Shah Meen Kalay in Manz Kas could not be made operational despite completion of its construction over two decades ago as the education department has yet to appoint teaching staff.

Saadullah Jan, a local activist, said another girls primary school in Khawaja Jan Kali area also remained closed for last nine years over a land dispute between two families.

The sources said some girls students attended classes in the nearby Abdullah Shah boys middle school due to closure of both the girls schools.

A number of parents have pulled out their daughters from the boys school as co-education is considered a taboo in the tribal society, the...