Official visit: Slacking teachers in remote village caught by surprise

Of the three teachers appointed, only one found teaching a class of one.

ABBOTABAD:

There is a reason why residents of a remote village of Abbottabad have been sending their children to private schools or to government schools in neighbouring areas.

During a recent surprise visit by an official of the Elementary and Secondary Education department Abbottabad to the only government primary school in Mangay De Bandi, it was found that of the three teachers appointed at the school only one was on duty. Moreover, there was only one student of kindergarten attending at the school, and that too without any books or stationery.

Khursheed Khan, the headmaster of Government Boys’ High School Banda Pir Khan, said that all three teachers appointed at the school have been drawing salaries for the last several months without taking any classes.

Khan, who also talked to the locals after visiting the school, said that due to the absence of teachers, locals have stopped sending their children to the school. During the current academic year, only seven students have been enrolled into the school – four in kindergarten and three in first grade, he added.



In his report to the education department, Khan claims the reason that the issue has not been reported to the authorities is because the appointed teachers enjoy “political backing.”

Qalandar Khan, a resident of Mangay De Bandi said if the teachers had been fulfilling their duties for the past few years the school would have had a large number of students enrolled. He said the residents do not want to send their children to schools in far off areas or the more expensive private schools, but they have been left with no other choice.

When contacted, Assistant District Officer Rab Nawaz Khan confirmed the report and added that legal action has been recommended against the schoolteachers. To a question, he said he held a meeting with the villagers around two months back to convince them to admit their children into the school.

Education District Officer Abbottabad Riaz Khan Swati could not be reached either at his office or on his cell phone.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2012.