MANSEHRA: The quality of education has considerably improved in Mansehra district, while academic standard in Kohistan is the worst in the province, reveals an education department survey.

The report of the survey, which covered 25 districts, shows that Mansehra’s academic standard has improved from 16th position to seventh with 41 points, while Kohistan has the 25th position with eight points.

Though Kohistan region consists of three districts, the education took it as one district for the survey, which considered academic performance, teacher-student rate, parent-teacher council meetings, school buildings, and teachers and students attendance for ranking.

Dera Ismail Khan topped the list, while Torghar district was placed at 17th position.

Kohistan shows worst academic standard among 25 districts

Mansehra district education officer Zafar Arbab Abbasi told reporters that Kohistan and Torghar districts of Hazara division had very low literacy rate with most women being without formal education.

Khubab, a Kohistan resident, complained that most schools in the region, especially girls’, were in dilapidated condition and didn’t have students due to the unavailability of regular teachers.

He regretted that even the teachers posted there didn’t do duty regularly.

SCHEMES OKAYED: The district development advisory committee has approved 548 development schemes to be executed in 59 union councils of Mansehra at the cost of Rs145 million.

“We have distributed development funds equally among members of the district council. Work on the schemes will start shortly,” district nazim Sardar Said Ghulam told a meeting here on Thursday.

Besides the DDC members, the heads of devolved departments also attended the meeting and discussed the schemes in detail before approving them.

The nazim said the provincial government had released Rs480 million as Mansehra’s share in the province’s resources under the provincial finance commission award.

“We have yet to receive half of the PFC Award funds and once they are available, we will spend them under various heads, including development’s,” he said.

The nazim said all schemes approved by the DDAC were submitted by the district councillors.

“I have ordered the tendering for sanctioned schemes and once this exercise is completed, work on schemes will get under way,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2018