QUETTA, Sept 5: The Balochistan High Court has issued notice to the provincial education secretary (schools) on a petition about the absence of teachers at Government Middle School in Panjpai.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar had issued the notice on Aug 25 during a hearing on the petition filed by Abdul Ghani Mashwani. The media was informed about it through a press release issued by the BHC on Monday.

The court observed that the matter should be treated as a test case in the public interest and asked the education secretary to provide information about the total number of primary, middle and high schools in Balochistan, the number of teachers in each school, inspections carried out by executive district officers of schools and the method of submitting inspection reports, participation of the local community in the affairs of schools and distribution of books and stationery.

The court asked the secretary to look into the matter personally and devise an effective system. The next hearing will be held in October.