VEHARI, Feb 9: The education department has failed to deliver roll number slips to class 5 and 8 students as yet despite the fact that the annual examinations are starting from Feb 15 and 23, respectively.

A group of class 8 students told Dawn on Wednesday that they had paid Rs60 as postal expenditures and Rs50 as examination fee. But they were still awaiting roll number slips, they added.

When this correspondent visited the examination branch in the Government Girls High School, an official said on condition of anonymity that the department received millions of rupees from the private students as examination fee but did not provide the staff required stationary. Moreover, he said the EDO office had not appointed the required number of official in the examination branch which was another cause for the delay in dispatch of roll number slips.

Some private students who were standing in front of the examination branch said they had to come to the office to receive their roll number slips though they had paid for postage.

The EDO, when contacted by phone, was not available for his comments. However, an official said most of the roll number slips have been sent to the post offices and the remaining would be posted within two days.

The local GPO incharge said roll number slips of some government schools and private students of Mailsi area were received two days ago.