KOHAT, June 1: The provincial education department has handed over the case of increments and promotions of 25,486 untrained and/or third division teachers to the finance committee for approval.

Secretary-General NWFP of the All Pakistan Teachers Association (ATA) Khairullah Hawari said that they had prepared the case of such teachers some two-and-half years’ back, according to a press release issued here on Friday.

In this connection talks were held between ATA representatives, chairman of finance committee Habib-ur-Rehman and Shah Raz Khan on May 29.

“I hope that with the confirmation and promotion of these teachers the shortage of teachers will also be overcome and the literacy rate will increase in the province,” Mr Hawari added.

Out of 25,486, the number of untrained teachers was 16,400, whereas those who passed their examinations in third divisions were 9,086.

The finance ministry said that in the case of untrained teachers, the payable amount of increments would be Rs30.4 million and for the promotion of third division holders Rs10.3 million would be needed.

Mr Hawari expressed the hope that the provincial government would solve their longstanding problem.