GUJRAT: The district government has sought induction of “credible, honest and passionate” members into the school councils, mainly through ruling party lawmakers’ recommendations.

The decision to “revamp” the school councils was made to ensure a transparent and judicious utilisation of the funds allocated for development of these institutions. The development funds have to be spent with the school councils’ approval.

According to sources, frequent complaints about inclusion of “dummy members” into school councils by the headmasters prompted the revamp of these bodies.

The sources said some headmasters had inducted their favourite people into school councils as private members to get approval of the funds spending according to their wishes.

These bodies across the province have been authorised to provide missing facilities to the school by hiring teachers on temporary basis, purchase of furniture, construction of toilets and provision of drinking water etc through spending the funds allocated to schools.

Official sources said the PML-N lawmakers had been asked by the concerned authorities to propose names of at least two “honest, credible and dedicated” people each from their respective constituencies for their inclusion in the school councils.

They added that the recently elected councillors could also become the members of school councils.

District Monitoring Office Ahmed Raza Surra said Rs57.53 million had been released for the district’s school councils in the first quarter.

MPA Haji Imran Zafar had convened a meeting of the chairmen and vice chairmen of the municipal corporation two days ago and sought their recommendations for the school councils of the city area.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2015