PESHAWAR, Oct 5: The NWFP governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has directed that restructuring exercise should be made so that the surplus staff could be adjusted. The governor said with the winding up of divisional offices, a number of employees had been rendered surplus at divisional level which could be adjusted in the new education institutions being set up by the provincial government.

He was speaking at a briefing regarding education department. Provincial minister for education and information Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani and officials of the education  department attended. He agreed, in principle, to fill the vacancies of teaching staff in the government college  on contract. The governor said the time frame wasted in the exercise of contracting teaching staff should be compressed and without altering the factors of transparency and parameters laid down for the contractual arrangement by the government of NWFP.

The governor was briefed about various computer science and IT diploma  certificate courses under self-financing scheme.  The governor said the teaching staff and experts for the newly conceived idea of self-finance scheme should be hired from the market. The government, in principle, had taken a decision that the teaching staff serving in the education department should not be deputed to the self-financing scheme.

The governor said the induction of visiting professors and lecturers for teaching in these classes, was not a bad idea. Whatever the method was adopted, it should be kept in mind that the spirit for which the new concept has been introduced, was not negated by any overstepping.  The governor directed the officials to remove the  gender disparities gradually in the education department and this should be adopted in all the government departments. He said the government would continue to lay emphasis on the value-added education. It did not mean, to lower the importance of traditional education, however, the scope of traditional education was limited. Therefore, the government had a policy to shift its focus on value-added education so that the younger generation might not face any problem in seeking any employment. The governor said: “If we continue with the conventional approach of education, it is bound to add more un employment.” The governor said we have categorically made it clear that the employees rendered surplus would not be laid off. They would continue to receive their salaries till their retirement  or  otherwise their adjustment in  to  various departments.  However,  such employees could not  opt  for departments  on  their own will.

During a briefing, it was revealed that 96 colleges would be inter-linked with the internet facility. The governor further directed that the pace of work on the Katlung college which, he had sanctioned during his previous visit to the area, should be accelerated. “I must receive a summary within 15 days in this regard,” he said, so that classes could be started. The governor said additional rooms and other minor things such as laboratory in educational institutions could be undertaken through Khushal Pakistan Programme.

Referring to Rs 15 million funds, the governor directed that ways and means be evolved to use this fund for the promotion of education.

Earlier, the governor was briefed about various programmes of self-financing scheme such a computer science, IT etc in the government colleges. Under the scheme, Bachelor, Master degrees in Computer Science, FSc Computer Science, diploma and certificate courses and Bachelor degree in Bio-Technology Courses would be awarded. At the outset lesser number of students would be allowed admission which would be increased gradually, keeping in view of the requirement of local areas. The governor was also informed about income and expanders of the new scheme.

The provincial government has agreed to establish 20 colleges at various parts of the province while in colleges in Swat, Mansehra, Peshawar, Abbottabad and Kohat. MA /MSc classes have started while computer science classes have been started in 39 colleges of the province, he was informed.