Sir: It is apt to say that the lack of basic facilities in schools and other institutes affects students negatively in many ways. It badly affects their learning capability. Students need a clean environment conducive to learning for their educational progress. Basic facilities are essential for developing a healthy and clean environment, not only in schools, colleges and institutes, but also in society at large. However, paucity of funding is not the reason behind a lack of basic facilities; it is rather mismanagement and recklessness that we see prevailing in the field of education as well as in many other fields. ASHRAF NAUSHAHI Via Email