QUETTA: The provincial education department has stopped funds allocated for 650 ‘ghost schools’ and suspended services of around 400 teachers after they were found absent from duty.

The action was taken in light of reports that funds were being released to hundreds of ghost schools and thousands of teachers of state-run schools did not attend schools.

According to the report, the illegal practice is continuing in connivance with some senior officials of the department.

“We have launched a departmental action against ghost schools and absentee teachers. So far, we have stopped funding to 650 ghost schools and suspended around 400 teachers in different districts for absence from their duty,” said Secretary Education Abdul Sabboor Kakar.

A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee held in Quetta a few days ago was informed that there were approximately 10,000 ghost teachers in Balochistan and a majority of government schoolteachers remain absent from the duty.

Services of around 400 absentee teachers suspended

An official of the education department told Dawn on Monday that a number of ghost teachers belong to families of tribal elders and politicians. He said hundreds of such teachers were office-bearers or members of political parties, adding that some of them even enjoyed official protocol because of their political connections.

He said teachers’ unions often pressurised officials of the education department for posting and transfers of teachers in their favourite areas.

Adviser to Chief Minister on Education Sardar Raza Mohammad Baraich admitted that he himself faced political pressure for posting and transfer of teachers. “On a daily basis I have to give time to political leaders and workers in my office who put pressure on me for postings and transfers of government teachers in their favourite areas,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2015