UPPER DIR: Upper Dir Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Usman Mehsud has directed the education department to ensure security arrangements in the educational institutions of the district to help students get education in a fear-free environment.

He issued the directives while speaking at a meeting with education department officials here on Friday.

He said students were real asset and future of the country. He said teachers should enhance learning environment in schools and prepare students for future challenges.

District education officer Moeen Uddin, and female DEO Haleema Bibi informed the deputy commissioner that the education department was facing shortage of over 700 teachers in primary schools for boys and girls. They said they had informed the director of provincial education department about the shortage of teachers.

The officials said 22,950 children had been enrolled in schools during the current year’s enrolment campaign.

They said that according to the statistics, the literacy rate in Upper Dir had risen to 49 per cent which was satisfactory compared to the past.

The deputy commissioner assured the education department of full cooperation in providing quality education to students.

Mr Mehsud sought education officials’ input in ensuring quality education to pupils.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2016