KOHAT, Dec 9: The Teachers Association has expressed its concern over the shortage of staff in the schools and colleges and demanded of the government to immediately fill 6,190 vacant posts so that the students can complete their course in time.

Prof Zahidullah and Sherzada Khan, district president and secretary of the association in a statement issued here on Sunday regretted that the members of the assemblies had been given an unprecedented raise in salaries and other perks while the Ph.Ds and senior teachers had been ignored.

They said award of free telephones and raise in daily allowances of the assembly members was not unwelcome step but the teachers and scholars should also not be ignored.

The price hike in utility bills and other necessary items of daily use had made life difficult for the government employees who had no other source of income, they pointed out.

Criticizing the NWFP governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah for his objectionable remarks against the teachers alleging that among the 24 provincial departments the education department topped the corruption list.

They pointed out that patwaris of the revenue department had their own cars and property while a professor could hardly manage transport.

They said corruption was rampant in all government departments and even governments had been removed on these charges.

The government knew who the corrupt elements were and should punish them instead of punishing the hardworking segments, they exhorted.