August 18, 2007	Saturday	Sha’aban 4, 1428

CHITRAL, Aug 17: More than 400 teachers, mostly women, posted to the district’s remote areas have hired local proxies for teaching on their behalf. The practice is affecting the students’ performance, as the recently declared results of matriculation examinations show, say some sources.

The teachers use either political influence to obtain work in areas of their choice or conveniently ‘hire’ locals in remote areas by using their connections in the education department, they say.

Three of the four teachers, supposed to work for a primary school for girls here, have got themselves transferred to schools near their homes on a temporary basis. But they still draw salary from areas of their posting. The situation is similar in most schools, the sources added.

The problem came to light recently when students of a local school boycotted classes in protest against their teachers’ continuous absence.