RAWALPINDI: It seems as if Rawalpindi’s education department has no interest in improving the education in far-flung areas of the district, because 50 per cent high schools in hard areas are still waiting for their permanent heads. Currently, these schools are being run by additional charge holders.

A source in the education department told Dawn that there are 52 schools – girls and boys – in the hilly areas of the district. Out of these, 26 have been without permanent principals for long. Some schools have been without any head for the last five years. These schools are located in Murree and Kotli Sattian tehsils.

“I agree, this is a serious issue, and without a permanent head, results and enrolments have been affected. I always raise this issue before the highups,” said Shahnaz Jabeen, district education officer (DEO) secondary.

The DEO, who is supposed to look after the affairs of high schools, said she took charge six months ago. Since then she has been trying to resolve this issue. However, the appointing authority is the secretary schools education, she added.

Deprived schools located in Murree and Kotli Sattian tehsils

Ms Jabeen said there were two major reasons in the appointment delay. “One is that promotions of some teachers are still pending. Secondly, senior teachers always avoid joining schools in hilly areas.”

It is relevant to note here that the higher and primary schools in these areas are not only facing shortage of principals, but also basic necessities. Sources said over 100 schools in the tehsils did not even have electricity connections.

The schools running without principals include Government Girls High School for Girls Bann, Boys High School Bann, Girls High School Charyan, Boys High School Gehal, Boys High School Potha Sharif, Boys High School Darya Gali, Girls High School Osia, Girls High School Chitra Dunga, Girls High School Monasi, Boys High School Murree, Girls High School Angori, Boys High School Chaka Bagwal, Darnoie High School, Girls High School Kotli, Khoti Boys High School, Anwali High School, Girls High School Lehtrar, High School Bhagha, Girls High Schools Chaladr and Boys High School Surba.

Talking to Dawn, a few teachers of these schools said the hilly areas always remained a low priority of the education department. “Without a captain, how can a team win match,” a teacher said.

When contacted, Punjab Teachers Union Rawalpindi President Raja Shahid Mubarik said this was sheer injustice with the students of rural areas. He said the government should not expect excellent results from these schools.

“Instead of taking action against teachers who produce poor results, the government should take action against those who are responsible for such a situation,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2014