TIMERGARA: Majority of the posts of principals, headmistresses, subject specialists, secondary school and science teachers in girls schools and colleges across Lower Dir have been lying vacant for quite some time, complained local residents.

They told journalists on Monday that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had declared educational emergency in the province, yet key posts in girls’ higher secondary and high schools in the district had been lying vacant for a long time.

The residents complained that due to shortage of female subject specialists at girls higher secondary schools and lecturers at girls colleges, students had to give up education after passing SSC examinations.

Meanwhile, sources in the female education office told Dawn that a total of seven posts of principals, (grade-18), and 34 posts (grade-17) of headmistresses had been lying vacant in the district.

Similarly, they said that seven posts of subject specialists in grade-18 and 50 posts in grade-17, 47 posts of science teachers and six general teachers had not been filled for a long time.

They maintained that seven posts of head clerks in grade 16 had also been vacant for a long time.

The problem could be solved if the government expedited the process of departmental promotions in the higher secondary schools, said an educationist, Haji Gul Jamal. He said that there was no such problem in boys schools where qualified teachers had been hired.

JIRGA DEMANDS: Adenzai Qaumi Jirga on Monday asked the district administration to implement its pledges made during an open katcheri held at Chakdara last month.

The jirga members made the demand during a meeting with the deputy commissioner Mohammad Suhail Khan. Among those who were in attendance included senior jirga members Dr Bashir Ahmad, Syed Sultanat Yar, Madad Khan of Jamaat-i-Islami, Lateef ur Rehman of QWP, Haji Zar Naseeb of JUI-F, Qaisar Khan of ANP and Ikram Ghani of PML-N.

The elders urged the deputy commissioner to enhance checking at the entry points of Khadagzai, Asbanrr, Gora Gut and Kamala.

They also demanded lifting of ban on registration of non-custom paid vehicles as it was causing problems to buyers of new vehicles.

The jirga members complained about encroachments along the main and link roads in Adenzai.

They said that the commissioner Malakand division should fulfill his promise of providing natural gas to Adenzai.

The deputy commissioner promised that some of the problems falling in his jurisdiction would be resolved amicably.

He said other problems would be raised with the concerned quarters.

ACTION AGAINST AFGHANS: The Timergara police on Monday have arrested four Afghan nationals from a local hotel.

Official sources said that a police party raided two hotels and arrested four Afghans, and also sent hotel owners to prison for allowing Afghan nationals to stay in hotels without seeking prior permission of police.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2015

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