Gilgit: In a significant move, a sub-jail building in Chilas has been transformed into a school exclusively for girls, while the under-construction Commissioner House in Diamer is being repurposed into a women’s hostel reported by Daily Dawn on May 22, 2023.Â
According to Altamash Janjua, the Commissioner of Diamer, the sub-jail building, previously under the supervision of GB Scouts, has now been converted into a school catering to 200 girls.
The building is currently undergoing renovations, which are expected to be completed within three weeks. Commissioner Janjua stated that the school will soon become a fully operational educational institution.
The repurposed building will offer various facilities, including a library with an extensive collection of books and educational resources. Additionally, an IT lab equipped with modern technology will be established to enhance digital literacy. Commissioner Janjua also mentioned that the classrooms will be equipped with digital screens to facilitate interactive learning experiences, complete with a dedicated server and learning management software.
“The transformation of this building into a school is nearing completion, and it will provide a transformative educational experience for the students in the community,” expressed Commissioner Janjua.
This successful conversion of the jail building into a girls’ school emphasizes the significance of allocating resources to address the pressing needs of the local population, as stated by the commissioner.
When contacted, GB Chief Secretary Mohiyuddin Ahmad Wani affirmed the development and highlighted that the government’s educational reforms in Gilgit-Baltistan, particularly in Diamer, have led to an increase in enrollment in government schools.
Mr. Wani further acknowledged that the existing government school buildings were insufficient to accommodate the growing number of students. Therefore, the initiative to repurpose the sub-jail building into a school aimed to provide much-needed resources to an area where educational facilities are scarce.
He also stated that enrollment in both boys’ and girls’ schools in the Diamer district had witnessed an eight percent increase in just one year.
Source: Nagri, J. (2023, May 22). GB turns Chilas sub-jail into girls’ school. DAWN.COM. https://www.dawn.com/news/1754963
