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In Pictures: The bombed schools of Pakistan

Hundreds of schools in northwest tribal region destroyed by armed groups, disrupting education of thousands of students.

Children look at the ruins of their school that was blown up by armed groups in Azam Khel village near the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to the federally administered tribal areas, FATA, secretariat, more than 450 educational institutions - including dozens of schools for girls - have been bombed since 2008.
By Wali Khan Shinwari
Published On 23 May 2014

Violent attacks by armed groups in the federally administered tribal areas (FATA) of Pakistan has not only resulted in the loss of lives but also hit the education system hard in the region bordering Afghanistan.

More than 450 schools in the northwest area of the country have been destroyed in attacks, forcing students to stop attending schools or learn outside amid the ruins.

The destruction of the schools appears to have negatively impacted the female literacy rate. A large number of girls and women have been forced to seek education in other districts such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as the law and order situation worsens.

The Pakistani government and its education division have made promises to improve the system and infrastructure, but the conditions of the buildings shown in the images tell a different story.

Teachers stand on the rubble of a school in Shalman village after an attack. According to Ahmad Khan, principal in one of the schools in the region, students were pulled out of their school after the attack and teachers resigned after receiving threats from rebels. Fearing more attacks, he closed the school.
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Students attend class in the open air in the remote area of Tirah Valley in Khyber tribal agency of FATA, where security forces re-opened educational institutions after five years.
Students have to sit on the ground in classes since the furniture destroyed in the attacks have yet not been replaced.
Students in Landi Kotal town in FATA said that despite the threats and fear of rebel attacks, they attended school everyday.
Ajmal Mansoor, a student in the second grade, said: "I was sleeping when I heard the booming sound of the blast in the school near my home. My parents asked me not to go to the school but still I attend the school."
A senior student teaches his juniors as they sit among the debris of a destroyed school.
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Students use the main gate of their school as a blackboard.
Students sit in this dilapidated school as the teacher reads a newspaper.
Tribal elder Noushad Yousaf visits the school that was bombed by armed groups in Shekhmal area.
Last year, the FATA(***)s education department said that the male literacy rate was 36 percent while it was only 10 percent for females.
A female teacher in the Jamrud subdivision gives lessons in the open air.
Students visit the ruins of their school in Sultankhel village in FATA.