CHITRAL: Parents have accused the education department of not filling the posts of about 300 teachers in government schools despite conducting tests and interviews some two months ago thus, putting future of their children at stake.

Mohammad Daud of Terich said that National Testing Service (NTS), after conducting test and interviews of the candidates two months ago, had also prepared merit list of those to be appointed teachers, but the education department had failed to complete the appointment process.

He feared that government functionaries might try to alter the NTS merit list to accommodate their own blue-eyed people.

Ziyad Wali from Mastuj said that it might take another two months for the newly appointed teachers to report to their stations of posting thanks to cumbersome official procedure.

He pointed out that schools would close for summer vacations in July to reopen in August and would again be closed for winter vacation in December, which meant that students only had four to five months left in the academic year, and that too without teachers.

Mr Wali said the government should have make arrangements for appointment of teachers before the start of the academic year, which was about to begin after the spring vacations.

“As the rulers of the province have their children enrolled in private sector schools, they do not care for the shortage of teachers in the government-run schools,” he regretted.

On contact the district education officer (male) Nisar Ahmed admitted to Dawn that the students were suffering due to shortage of teachers in government schools in Chitral.

WEBSITE LAUNCHED: Chitral happens to be the first district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to have launched its web portal containing information about different departments and their functions.

The website was formally launched at a function held in the office of deputy commissioner here.

Chitral Integrated Area Development Programme (CIADP) has developed the website as part of its initiative to strengthen government departments by providing them with computers and related paraphernalia and imparting training to employees.

CIADP managing director Azar Ayaz said the website would provide the required information to people about the functions of the district administration. He said CIADP had been making efforts to introduce e-governance to enhance efficiency of the district government.

Chitral deputy commissioner Mohammad Shoaib Jadoon said the website would not only provide multi-dimensional information to common man about the government but it would also contain knowledge regarding the rich cultural diversity, history and folk heritage of Chitral.

He said that a tourist intending to come here would find the web portal highly useful in finding his or her tour guide.