In Khyber, over 37 elementary schools for girls have been shut down because of a teacher shortage and long-standing nonpayment of salary to teaching staff.

At least 700 female teachers were in short supply in Bara, Jamrud, and Landi Kotal, according to education office officials, which led to the sudden closure of 37 elementary schools for girls.

As per them, the closure of those schools also severely harmed the enrollment of girls in Khyber during the ongoing campaign, and the girls who were admitted to those schools had ceased going to class because of the teachers' constant absences.

The officials, who asked to remain anonymous, say that in addition to the 37 girls' schools that were abruptly closed, Khyber had at least 81 additional elementary schools for females, each with an average of 300 pupils, where just one teacher was on duty.

According to them, the education administration was operating the majority of the closed schools by recruiting instructors on an as-needed basis at a set wage, and those "part-time" teachers lacked a suitable service structure.

They stated that the ad hoc teachers were either relieved of their duties or stopped doing their official duties on their own after their wages were abruptly canceled due to a lack of funding.

In keeping with a list created by the district education office, Landi Kotal had the most shuttered schools—21—while Bara and Jamrud had 12 and 4 additional closed schools, respectively.

Parents, students, and members of civic society were incensed by the school closures and expressed their dismay and rage at the indifference of the education department and elected officials.

However, education office officials maintained that despite their repeated attempts to alert their superiors to the situation, no corrective action was taken.