Facing the music: Over 60 govt teachers moonlighting with NGOs, political parties

Will lose their jobs if positions not clarified.

MANSEHRA:

The education department has decided to initiate legal action against all teachers found guilty of official misconduct. The teachers were reportedly offering services to various NGOs and political parties in four districts of Hazara without prior approval from the department, official sources told The Express Tribune here on Monday.

Informed sources at the offices of Elementary and Secondary Schools executive district officers in Mansehra, Battagram, Kohistan and Abbottabad, stated that the department received complaints from different quarters, including intelligence agencies, that male teachers posted at different government schools were involved in official misconduct.

The teachers, according to official sources, either took long-term leave from their departments while serving on the payroll of various NGOs, or offered their services during official working hours while simultaneously receiving handsome compensation. These teachers were engaged in office and field work in environment protection, education, health and water and sanitation.

The teachers were allegedly involved with religious and other political parties and ran the campaigns of selected political leaders and elected parliamentarians.

Sources stated that upon receiving the complaints, the education department conducted private inquiries into the matter and discovered that 14 teachers from Abbottabad, 24 from Mansehra, five from Battagram and 23 from Kohistan were on the payroll of different NGOs. The education department served them show-cause notices and asked for clarifications on their positions within 14 days. Sources indicated that the teachers would face removal if they failed to provide a suitable answer. No teacher was available for comments due to Monday being a public holiday.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2011.