NAWABSHAH, March 1: Reinstatement of 266 teachers sacked in 1998 is reportedly being delayed due to absence of record at the district education office.

A total of 876 primary, junior and high school teachers, including 266 from the Nawabshah district, were appointed in April 1998 but they were sacked in November 1998.

In February 2005, the Sindh government issued a notification to executive district officers of the education department to reinstate the teachers. Talking to Dawn, the district officer, elementary education, Abdul Maalik Lakhmir, said there was a confusion because dozens of lists having different names had been received for reinstatement and it was not possible to finalize the matter.

He said the record was available with the directorate of education, Sukkur. He said District Nazim Faryal Talpur had directed the EDO, education, to constitute different scrutiny committees for primary, junior and high school teachers to make the reinstatement process transparent. He said the committees would get the lists from Sukkur after which letters would be issued to the teachers.