The Khushal Public School, founded by the father of Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai, has been shut down due to non-availability of funds, confirmed school administration on Wednesday.
Sources said over 80 boy students have been asked to leave the school at once. “Teachers and administration staff have also been fired from services without any prior notice,” says a school official on condition of anonymity.
After the attack on Malala, Ziauddin along with family shifted to United Kingdom (UK) and began to neglect the school till this time, he added.
“The institution has gradually run short of the funds and after years of struggling ultimately, it has to shut down for good.”
On the other hand the Malala Fund clarified that the school is not closing and the only current change in the school is that it will now be girls-only from grade five through secondary school.
“The lower grades will remain the same with both boys and girls attending. As there are fewer girls’ schools in the area, Khushal School wanted to focus on girls’ education in the upper grades,” said Taylor Royle, the Chief Communications & Creative Officer at Malala Fund.
She further rejected the report that the school has financial problems, saying it has been thriving in recent years. “Previously the school was housed in a rented building, but they’ve since purchased their own building and constructed a playground for the children,” Ms Royle added.
The school, owned by Ziauddin Yousafzai, had been established in Swat Valley almost ten years ago.
Ziauddin, who is an educational activist, running a chain of schools known as the Khushal Public School, is a graduate from Jehanzeb College with a Master’s in English. The 48-year-old activist is currently residing in the UK with his family.
Malala was shot in the head at close range in October 2012. She was taken to the UK for treatment and has surprised doctors with her recovery.
The Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which it said was carried out because the pupil was promoting a Western, secular agenda.
As well as terrorist attacks on girls schools, years of underinvestment have left Pakistan with one of the worst education records in the world.
In the last week of March 2018, Malala Yousafzai returned to her hometown in Pakistan for the first time since she was shot there by the Taliban.
In 2014 she became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She and Indian activist Kailash Satyarthi were jointly awarded it for their efforts for children’s rights.
She has continued campaigning while pursuing her studies and is now reading Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at Oxford University.
