TIMERGARA, Oct 10: Public sector schools in Lower Dir district are facing teaching staff shortage and other basic facilities.

The students of Government High School Shorshing Adenzai and their parents have complained that the post of headmaster, senior English teachers, including Science teacher and other cadres, were lying vacant for the last two years.

In a joint statement, they said that at present only six teachers, instead of the 13 required, were running the school as a result of which the future of the students was bleak.

The chairman, education committee of Union Council Kotigram, Ihsanullah, has expressed grave concern over the transfer of a female senior English teacher from the Government Girls High School, Osakai.

He told Dawn on Wedneaday that the students of the school were already facing shortage of staff while the transfer had added to their miseries.

The students of the Government High School Toormang, Lower Dir told Dawn on Wednesday that the lack of a science teacher, shortage of drinking water and non-provision of textbooks were some of the basic problems of their school.

The students complained that since there was no science teacher in the school, they were compelled to take humanities, adding that even after the passing of three months they were deprived of the teaching staff.

They demanded of the government to take notice of the situation and increase the teaching staff to solve their problems.

On being contacted, an official of the education department, Lower Dir, said that it was due to government policy that they could not appoint teachers on their own. Similarly, due to political involvement teachers could not be transferred against their will.