MULTAN, Jan 3: The executive district officer (education) in a surprise visit to a local secondary school learnt that its headmaster has unilaterally adjusted the opening time.

EDO Prof Nazir Ahmad Chaudhry, who took charge of the office few days ago, has been paying surprise visits to schools and colleges reportedly to discourage absenteeism among teachers.

Educational institutions normally set 8:30am as a deadline for assembly in winter. On Saturday, the EDO and other officials arrived at the Government Pilot Secondary School, Nawan Shehr, at the time when the school was supposed to be in session. However, he found the headmaster, Ayub Bosan, and 14 teachers not reaching there.

When inquired, he learnt that the headmaster had rescheduled the arrival time at 8.45am, and that too without bringing the matter into knowledge of the authorities concerned.

The EDO directed District Officer (schools) Wali Muhammad to serve a notice on the headmaster on his unilateral move. The DO has reportedly summoned the headmaster to his office for tomorrow (Monday).

Sources in the department say the EDO's surprise visits to the educational institutions are a part of district government drive to ensure teachers' regularity.