SWABI, Oct 13: The district education officer (primary) has ordered deduction of one-day pay from the salary of 20 absentee teachers during the officers visits to different schools in the Swabi area on Thursday.

Sources in the education department told Dawn that there were reports about teachers who remained absent from duty and did not work as required by the education department.

The sources said that the DEO with other officials paid surprise visits to some schools and found 20 teachers absent.

They said that the education department had collected the names of those teachers who were “habitual” absentees and warned them of disciplinary action if they continued the practice.

The sources said that surprise visits to schools would continue to make the absentee teachers attend classes.

NWFP Education Minister Maulana Fazal Ali, who belonged to Swabi, had advised to the education officials to take stern action against such teachers, said the sources.—Correspondent