If it were not for a local volunteer, there would have been no classes at the only girls’ primary school in Shinkat village for the past 10 days.
The two teachers appointed at the school have been transferred and the education department has not sent anyone to fill the posts, even temporarily. Gul Naz, a volunteer primary teacher has been left to manage the school on her own.
Government Girls Primary School Shinkat has around 200 students enrolled and classes are offered from kindergarten to grade five. Locals have expressed concern over the education department’s inaction and demand that the posts be filled immediately.
Omar Khan, a local social activist said people have repeatedly asked the district officer for education to fill the posts, but there is no response.
Naz, who normally teaches kindergarten classes, said in the absence of the other two teachers, she is taking all classes from kindergarten up to grade five. She said she had applied for the post of a primary teacher at the school after completing her Primary Teachers Course (PTC), but she was not given a position.
“Our village might not have enough teachers, but it’s not like we have a shortage of teachers in the union council,” said Zahid Zada, a resident. “The main issue is that teachers from other areas have to cover long distances to reach our village,” he added. He urged the education department to resolve the issue without further delay.
Zada said the school used to have over 300 students enrolled before the militancy in Swat, but the numbers have dwindled since. “It used to be a very busy school, but since the militancy, it just couldn’t gain back the momentum,” he added.
When contacted, District Officer Education Dilshad Begum claimed the two teachers were transferred on political grounds, however, she said that the posts are no longer vacant. “We have appointed two new teachers at the school and they should have assumed their duties by now,” said Begum.
She said she has directed the assistant district officer education to “visit the school and get the facts.” She said the new teachers will be penalised if they fail to take classes.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2012.
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As it is hinted in the news itself, teachers, like doctors, avoid appointments in distant areas. So the blame has to be shared by the govt, teachers and society at large. Thumbs up to the volanteers.
my village is in the middle of Punjab and there are no teachers for both the girls and the boys government schools. This has been the case for the past 15 or so years. I don't think this problem to limited to schools in Swat but to nearly all small scale government schools in rural areas.