566 'ghosts' identified in Thar education dept

566 teachers and staff members have been found either absent from their duties or fraudulently drawing salaries

MITHI:

The Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate has uncovered a shocking case of absenteeism and ghost employees within the education system in Tharparkar district.

As many as 566 teachers and staff members from various government-run schools have been found either absent from their duties or fraudulently drawing salaries, according to a report sent to the Directorate of School Education and the concerned district education officers (DEOs).

The revelation comes after comprehensive monitoring of biometric attendance records, with the investigation focusing on appointments made during 2024. Chief Monitoring Officer of Tharparkar, Ibrahim Kumbhar revealed that these 566 employees were either missing from their assigned duties or were 'ghost employees' - on the payroll but not present for work. The details have been submitted to the relevant authorities for further action.

The breakdown of the report highlights massive absenteeism, particularly among primary schoolteachers. Of the 566 delinquent staff members, 138 primary schoolteachers were found absent on various occasions, while another 261 were identified as 'ghost employees'. At the secondary education level, 53 teachers were absent, and 115 were ghost. The report also flagged several naib qasids as ghost employees.

Primary Education DEO Jan Muhammad Bajir has received this list of delinquent employees but has taken a cautious approach, forwarding it to taluka education officers with a two-day deadline for a report. Critics argue that quick action should have been taken at the DEO level.

The School Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate has called for immediate measures to address this issue. The Directorate stated that these absentee teachers, many of whom are women, are undermining the quality of education in Tharparkar. A large number of them are reportedly sitting at home while still receiving their salaries.