BATTAGRAM: Forty-five government primary and maktab schools in Battagram district have been merged into the nearby schools because of less enrolment and close proximity to the ones they are now made part of.

Likewise, the employees of these schools have also been adjusted in other schools in their own pay and scale.

A notification issued by the district education officer (male) mentioned that mapping of all district schools in light of the proposal submitted by SDEOs, and consequent upon the recommendations of a committee, 45 schools, including 24 government primary schools and 21 Maktab primary schools, had been merged into the nearby schools.

These schools were merged due to enrolment less than 50 per cent and also they fell within the radius of less than 1.5km from nearby schools.

It pointed out that one of the maktab schools in Mirtab area had only two students.

Consequently, adjustment of all the 65 teachers of different cadre and 22 class-IV employees has been made in other schools.

DEO Mohammad Riaz Khan Swati said the merger of schools would help provide quality education to students, besides minimising government expenditures.

CHEMISTS PROTEST: The local chapter of chemist association observed a shutter down strike against the amendments to the drug act.

The protesters shouted slogans against the provincial government, demanding repeal of the new law.

The protesters marched from the DHQ hospital to the main Katcheri Chowk, carrying banners and placards written with their demands.

Sher Azam Khan, a leader of the association, said by introducing such laws the government wanted to deprive them of their livelihood sources.

He demanded of the government to take back the amendments.

Nazir Mohammad, another chemist, also criticised the provincial government for not taking all the stakeholders on board while making amendments to the drug act.

He demanded of the chief minister to look into the matter.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2017