DERA GHAZI KHAN, Jan 18: District education monitoring teams have found many schools closed during their inspection of schools in 2007, according to the annual report of the department.

In Dera Ghazi Khan district, there are 2,131 primary, 110 high and 140 middle schools. The government offers incentives like free books to students and stipend for girl students to improve the standard of learning and attendance.

The reports say that 80 schools were found closed during school hours in Jan, 190 in Feb, 187 in March, 218 in April, 244 in May, 100 in Sept, 117 in Oct and 149 in Nov.

During inspection, monitors found Jalo Wali Girls’ High School in Taunsa Sharif functional with one teacher while the staff was absent.

A teacher, however, criticised the government for spending money on monitoring teams and neglecting teachers.

He said the government had provided motorcycles to monitors to inspect the schools but teachers had not been given any vehicle to reach their schools.

Dawn learnt that district officer (education), deputy district officer, assistant district officer are responsible for regular checking of schools but they have not been given motorcycles to visit far off areas.

Executive District Officer (education) Nazuk Shehzad says that he took over the office in Nov 2007 and the department was regularly considering the monitoring reports to improve the functioning of the Education Department.