LAYYAH, May 15: A mind-boggling scandal has come to light as a primary school for boys has not been made functional ever since its creation 23 years ago, though a visitor to it is misled by the official claims regarding its functioning.

A visit to the institution by this correspondent revealed that the school was running only on paper and the only teacher appointed here had been drawing salary regularly without even showing up once in a month.

The Punjab government constructed the school at Manjhiwala, a far-flung area near Nawankot that falls in one of the most neglected tehsils, Chaubara in Layyah.

On Dec 30, 1986, the school started functioning according to fake record of education department. It started operation in the official files and a schoolteacher was appointed and all types of funds specified to run the schools had been fully utilised and even the enrolment register of students had also been kept.

The record is available in the form of official inspection notes regarding the school’s performance. Information gleaned by Dawn, however, shows that the school has not functioned even for a day during the last 23 years during which its building has been reduced to ruins.

The walls have collapsed, classroom doors damaged and gates have been demolished. A resident of the locality said the school had become a haven for addicts.

“The question arises whether the teacher who has been drawing salary for the last 23 years without serving it will ever be apprehended and the negligent officials brought to the book,” says Hasnain Khan Magsi, a public safety commission member.

EDO (Education) Hafiz Abdul Wahid said he would look into matter and order an inquiry to ascertain wrongdoings before giving any official response to the issue.