LAHORE, Sept 25: The City District Government Lahore has decided to recruit over 400 teachers in public sector schools.

Applications from candidates will be sought within a couple of weeks while appointment letters to more than 300 teachers recruited earlier will be issued after the provincial government’s approval.

The decision was taken at a meeting held here on Monday to review facilities at state-run schools with nazim Mian Amer Mahmood in the chair.

Women will be given a preference in appointment for elementary schools as directed by the provincial government, the meeting said.

It was decided in the meeting that the provincial government would be approached for provision of free books to students of public sector English medium schools as well.

A summary would also be sent to the chief minister to order construction of 293 new classrooms in schools in Ravi and Shalimar towns being run with the cooperation of an NGO.

The meeting sought issue of tenders within 15 days for the repair of the 20-room Government Pakland High School in Shadbagh.

The nazim ordered the authorities concerned to expedite work on provision of new furniture to schools being run under the Citizens Community Boards (CCBs). He also directed the district revenue officer to evict illegal occupants from government schools and initiate legal action against grabbers.

The meeting also decided to hand over the building of a vocational institute in the Shahalam Gate Government Boys School to an NGO for educational purposes.

Education officials were asked to prepare the feasibility of second shift in 20 primary and seven high schools in Ravi Town besides making easy procedure to upgrade primary schools.

They were also asked to prepare the feasibility of development of a school in Badami Bagh kutcha abadi on a two-kanal piece of land donated by a welfare society and on another piece of land in Shahdara.

Mian Amer ordered removal of skips lying close to entrances of schools and hospitals in various areas and their shifting to the other places.