SHANGLA: Residents of Bakro Sar area in the Shang union council of Bisham have complained that a Maktab school in the locality has been closed for seven months due to absence of its teacher, affecting education of both the boys and girl students.

They said as the school was situated in the far-flung area teachers were reluctant to be posted there. They pointed out that a teacher had been appointed, but he was not attending to duty.

They told reporters the school had enrolled 86 students, but they were deprived of the opportunity to get education near their houses.

They pointed out that keeping in view the school’s strength two teachers should be appointed to it.

The local residents also said the school had no proper building, adding the students initially used a mosque and now they were studying in a house.

The residents said education was the basic right of their children and the government should ensure provision of teachers to the school. They threatened if their demand was not fulfilled they would come onto the roads against the education department.

When contacted, Assistant Education Officer, Bisham Circle, Mohammad Ali said the school was functioning and that the teacher sometimes absented from duty as he had taken loan from the local people. The official said the matter was also in the notice of the district education officer.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2016