SHANGLA: The residents of Jatkool area in Chakesar tehsil have complained about a serious shortage of teachers in the area’s only government primary school, saying the school has only one teacher for a long time.

Local elders and Jatkool village council members staged a protest outside the Government Primary School complaining about shortage of staff in the school.

They held placards and shouted slogans for the immediate appointment of teachers and Class IV staff to the school.

They said two-room school was built in 1974 by the ruler of Swat but both rooms had developed cracks in the 2015 earthquake and had yet to be repaired.

“We staged protests several times seeking recruitment of staff and a separate school for girls but neither the elected MPA nor district government paid heed to this problem,” local resident Attaur Rehman said.

He said around 155 students were enrolled in the school, including 26 girls, but it was difficult for a single teacher to teach them all subjects.

The resident complained that the school building was in ruins endangering the life of students and staff members.

Elder Sharif Khan said the people had repeatedly asked the education department for staff appointment to school but in vain. He also regretted that the school didn’t have basic furniture forcing students to still on the floor.

Chairman of the Parents Teachers Council Ahmad Wahid said the school’s building was very old, while the school didn’t have boundary wall.

“The school doesn’t even have Class-IV employees or watchmen. Students clean the premises, while the lone teacher performs the class-IV duty,” he said.

Local district councilor Qari Saaduddin said he asked the district education officer thrice for corrective measures but to no avail.

He said the district nazim had not given him funds for the school’s repairs and construction of additional rooms.

When contacted, district education officer Mohammad Ameen said the schoolteachers were promoted and therefore, there was a shortage of teachers.

He however said he would ensure early appointment of teachers to the school.

He said he didn’t know why the school didn’t use the PTC funds for repairs and construction of boundary wall.

HOUSE GUTTED: A house was gutted in Sangrai area of Ranyal union council here on Monday night.

The local residents said the fire broke out due to electrical short circuit but it caused no damage to public life as the family was quick to move out.

House owner Ghafoor Khan demanded of the government to help him rebuild house.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2018