In the absence of teachers, students in Talhar can only play

ISLAMABAD:

Every day, students of Federal Government Model School for Boys (FGMSB ) Talhar, some of whom walk long distances, come to school to play. Even though the academic year is about to end in a few weeks, they have just covered 30 per cent of their syllabus as far as major subjects are concerned, due to the non-availability of teachers, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Of the 28 sanctioned posts in FGMSB Talhar, more than a third are vacant. Eleven posts including that of the principal are vacant, while three teachers, have been deputed in schools in Islamabad, according to the duty chart at the school.

Asad Mehmood, a 10th grader leaves his house in Makrial village, K-P at 5am and reaches school three hours later. I spend most of my time playing and this is my daily routine, he said. Asad’s village is approximately 18 kilometres from Talhar.

Teachers’ unwillingness to perform duties in far-flung schools and references from senior officials which they use to occupy preferred slots are the main reasons the school faces a staff shortage, said Abrar Hussain, FGMSB vice principal. “Whenever a new teacher comes in, he uses his references to get a transfer.” Senior officials prefer not to visit the school, so they don’t know of the problems first-hand, he added.

Presently, the school has about 500 students with 10 teachers excluding a vice principal and a deputy headmaster who do not take classes in spite of the fact that they are supposed to teach at least one class a day according to their job specifications.



FGMSB Talhar is the only school for children of Pir Sohawa, Gokina Khurd, Gokina Kalan, Kotla, Sangra, Murad Gali, Gah, Malwar, Kingra, Shah Allah Ditta and Makrial. These villages are located in the Margalla Hills, some of which fall in K-P.

Last December, after hectic efforts by parents, the school hired a local, less qualified science teacher, on daily wages, for classes ninth and 10th. The teacher helped students cover one-third of the syllabus in three months.

Sharing their concern over the delay in the appointment of the school’s principal and teachers, members of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) have demanded the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) fill the vacant posts immediately.

While showing copies of applications sent to the concerned department, Muhammad Awais, a member of PTA, said it was unfortunate that teachers had not been appointed and students had wasted their time the entire academic year.

President PTA, Muhammad Mehfooz Khan demanded experienced teaching staff for the school. He suggested that teachers in far-flung schools be given transport and hill station allowances and hoped the problem could be solved with these facilities.

Bhara Kahu Area Education Officer Bashir Arain said he was aware of students’ concerns and they would soon be addressed. Schools in the sector require 351 teachers. Rationalisation is in progress to overcome the shortage of teachers.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2013.