Teachers’ Perception about Terrorism in Swat: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the perceptions of teachers about the causes and consequences of terrorism in Swat, Pakistan. Pakistan in general and Swat in particular havewitnessed terrorism on a large scale during the recent decades. Education has been a consistent target of terrorist attacks in Pakistan in recent years. Teachers are one of the most important elements in the education sector, therefore this study explored teachers’ perceptions regarding the issue. Data were collected from 20 teachers (10 men, 10 women) from district Swat.The sample was selected through purposive sampling technique. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the respondents to collect data.Thematic analysis method was used to analyzethe data. Findings indicatethat lack of education, lack of good governance, flawed security policies, corruption in the society, poverty and unemployment, religious extremism, economic inequality, weak judicial system, social injustice and lack of tolerance were major causes of terrorism in the area.The main consequencesof terrorism included fear, insecurity, economic hardships and psychological problems among the populace. The study has important implications for policy makers, educational leaders, academics in Pakistan and elsewhere.