DADU, Dec 11: Sindh Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq has expressed dissatisfaction over the negligence of officials in carrying out their duties as around 7,700 schools in the province were lying closed when PPP assumed the power.

However, the government was successful in reopening 2,425 primary schools during the last six months, he said.

He complained of the non-cooperative attitude of the DCOs with the Education Department and reminded them to report about all closed schools. He told this to reporters at the office of Civil Surgeon during a visit to the Civil Hospital.

The minister advised the education officials and PPP presidents of union councils to make efforts of reopening all closed schools by paying regular visits.

He warned of suspending assistant district officers on failure to get closed schools reopened. He said that from now onwards it would be the responsibility of the EDOs Revenue to issue certificates regarding improvements in education sector.

He constituted a committee comprising EDO Revenue Dadu, PPP general secretary, PPP Taluka President, chairman market committee, PPP city President to visit the 700 closed schools in the district along with furnishing a report to him in seven days.

Pir Mazharul Haq directed the EDO Education to take immediate action against ghost teachers and refrain from obliging MPAs, MNAs and PPP leaders in illegal work.

Regarding development schemes, he said only the work under chief minister’s directives was being undertaken while the rest was suspended due to non-approval of funds by DCO Dadu. This had halted the schemes of education works, drainage and roads, he said.