HARIPUR: Local government representatives and residents here on Thursday expressed concern over the shortage of teaching staff in government schools, particularly girls’ schools in remote areas of tehsil Ghazi.

After a meeting with the district education authorities, Tehsil Council Convener Khanzada Hayat Khan Tanoli told media persons that the government girls middle school in Gali village, Union Council Baitgali, had only three female teachers for around 100 girl students, despite the standard requirement of eight teachers.

He criticised the education department for granting leave to two of the female teachers until February next year, leaving only one teacher to manage and teach the students. “Can a single teacher handle 8 to 10 subjects across 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, with a total strength of about 100 students?” questioned Mr Tanoli.

Mr Tanoli stated that the PTI had been in power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the past 11 years, making lofty claims about increasing the literacy rate among girls, particularly through the imposition of an education emergency. “Their sincerity in fulfilling their own promises is evident from the current state of the education system in the province,” he lamented.

When asked for comments, an official from the district education office (Female) confirmed that two female teachers had been sent for training until February and would return to the school upon completing their training, which was part of their service.

SOCIAL SECURITY: Labour Minister Fazal Shakoor Khan stated that the provincial government was considering practical steps to provide social security and EOBI facilities to the industrial workers of Hattar Industrial Estate.

While addressing teachers and industrial workers during his visit to a local school in the labour colony, he noted that over 400 companies were operating at the Hattar Industrial Estate, yet complaints about the lack of social security and Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) facilities were common.

The provincial minister assured the workers of establishing a healthcare centre in Khanpur and provision of other facilities for their families.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2024