Families in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar are mourning 34 children and a teacher killed when the roof of the Al-Khair Education Center collapsed during classes on October 15. The disaster has prompted an investigation into the building’s condition and raised questions about safety standards in the country’s private education sector.
Nearly 110 students were attending lessons in three classrooms when the structure gave way. Residents began pulling children from the rubble with their bare hands before police and rescue teams arrived. Of the 45 injured children, most were discharged after receiving first aid, while three remained in critical condition, hospital officials said.
Among the victims was seven-year-old Rumaisa Khan, who had worn a new pair of shoes her father had recently bought for her. Her father, Ismail Khan, and her uncle recovered her from the debris and rushed her to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Another victim, 13-year-old Mohammad Amir, had hoped to become a religious scholar. His family said they had trusted the school to provide a safe environment in which he could learn and pursue his ambitions.
Questions over building safety
Peshawar police chief Mian Saeed said the roof had been overloaded by construction on an already weak structure. The school’s owner has been arrested, and authorities have launched an investigation into the collapse.
Officials have also ordered audits of similar school buildings to identify potential hazards. The inquiry will be important in determining how the structure was allowed to operate and whether warnings or safety requirements were overlooked.
The tragedy has exposed broader vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s education system. The country spends less than 1% of its gross domestic product on education, leaving many families reliant on low-cost private schools. Some operate from poorly maintained rented buildings with limited regulatory oversight.
The latest disaster follows a roof collapse at a tutoring centre in Lahore in June that killed at least 14 children, highlighting persistent concerns about the safety of educational facilities.
For grieving families, the immediate loss is immeasurable. The investigation now faces a wider responsibility: establishing accountability and ensuring that schools meet basic safety standards before more children are placed at risk.
