MANSEHRA: Thirty-nine teachers have been terminated in Upper Kohistan district for being absent from duty.

“We cannot tolerate any negligence in duty and these 39 teachers have been dismissed from service for the same reason. Fresh appointments on these vacant posts will be made soon,” Ziaullah Khan Bangash, the adviser to chief minister, told reporters in Dasu on Saturday.

Mr Bangash, who was on a three-day visit to Upper and Lower Kohistan districts on the orders of Prime Minister Imran Khan, said he would now frequently visit these highly conservative districts to monitor educational activities and take to justice those teachers not attending to their duties.

He said in order to address shortage of teachers in both the districts he would request Chief Minister Mahmood Khan to relax procedure for appointment of teachers.

“We are building separate classrooms in the schools which are in dilapidated condition to facilitate the students,” said Mr Bangash.

“The independent monitoring unit has also been tasked with ensuring that teachers regularly came to school and those skipping duty five days a month should be terminated,” he said.

He also appealed to the parents to report absenteeism of teachers and any school dysfunctional to the district education officers in their respective districts.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2019