Pakistan: Primary school teachers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa plan province-wide strike amid educational crisis

Around 1,39,000 primary school teachers in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have declared a strike in response to the government’s decision to abandon their proposed upgrade. The All Primary Teachers Association (ATPA) plans to hold demonstrations, street rallies, and school closures, with a sit-in protest scheduled for October 7. This move will result in the closure of more than 25,000 primary schools in the province. Pakistan is facing an education crisis with millions of children out of school, particularly in rural areas. The situation is more severe for girls, with 53% of out-of-school children being female.