Girls’ education in a shambles at govt schools in Charsadda

THE NEWS

More than 20 girl schools in Charsadda district are closed due to shortage of teachers, but there are 13 lady teachers for 30 girl students at the Government Primary School in Chamrangabad, sources said.

The sources said that due to negligence of the Education Department, thousands of girls were deprived of their basic right of education in the far away schools of Charsadda that were closed as teachers did not want to go there.

The sources in the District Education Department said more than 124 surplus woman teachers who preferred duty at the schools located near their homes using political clout, were not ready to join duties in the remote schools in the district. They added that officials were unable to transfer them to the schools where their services were required.

The sources disclosed that 12 teachers were surplus in the Government Primary School Chamrangabad, five in the Government Primary School in Station Koroona, 11 in Babara village, 12 in Sher Payan, nine in the Papara village school which also had five extra watchmen, seven in Government Primary School in Yachkhel, five in Tariqabad, six in Utmankhel, nine in Khat Killay, seven in Islamabad village, seven in Qazikhel and four in Government Primary School in Turangzai.

Besides, at several other schools the employees were more than the required number, the sources said. The sources said Government Primary School, Dheray Palosa No 1, Government Primary School, Dheray Palosa No 2, and government girls primary schools in Sparlay Dheray, Burj Killay, Sarki Maroofkhel, Khanmahi, Tambolak, Saadabad, Dalazak, Aranda No 1 and 2, Rashakai No1 and 2, Shahid Gul Koroona, Gharmbak, Haryana Bakayana, Meto Killay and Malangi Koroona and Government Primary School, Hashim Khan Killay were closed as teachers were not available to teach the students there.

The sources said that there were 17 girls’ primary schools in the district where one teacher was deputed to teach children which was against the rules and regulations. The one-teacher schools include Government Girls Primary School in Ghandal Khan, Ahmad Khan Killay, Risaldar Killay, Nazo Killay, Dheri Zardad, Shahpasand Killay, Londha Nisata, Sheikhabad, Agra Bala and Shabara villages.

Owing to political interference, the sources said that government schools in Charsadda district were in trouble as no system of monitoring and evaluation existed to supervise the standard of education in such institutions.

When contacted, Executive District Officer (Education) Attaullah Khan said that 41 schools in the district were non-functional due to various reasons. He said most of the schools could not be made functional because those persons who had donated land for the construction of schools had been demanding jobs for their family members.

“We have registered first information reports against such persons,” he said, adding that 24 of the 41 schools had been opened and the remaining 17 schools would be made functional soon. To a question, he said the district education department had surplus teaching staff and these teachers wanted to remain and serve in the district. However, he said the department would start transfers through rationalisation policy and had informed the secretary education of the decision.

The EDO said that transfers of the surplus teachers would start after the school examination in March as any such move before the examination would affect the studies of the students. He suggested that appointments of teachers should be done at the union council level instead of open merit. He argued that it would help address the staff deficiency problem in the remote areas and improve literacy rate.