Teachers score lowest on attendance

Shortage in teaching staff aside, schools report that teachers never take classes.

LIAQATPUR: There is a dire need of teachers for schools in Cholistan, as hundreds of children are being deprived of an education. District officials have said that there are very few school teachers in the district, especially in girls’ schools.

“Most schools do have teachers on the payroll but they hardly ever show up to teach classes and students are suffering,” said tehsil administrative officer Jafar Kaleem, adding that students usually showed up for school, opened their books and sat in the class room for the entire day without learning anything.

According to administrative officials, the government had constructed several schools in Cholistan but teachers have not yet been appointed to teach there. The schools where teachers are appointed have also been neglected as teachers don’t take classes. “Students don’t come to Cholistan on the basis of political backing or because they have an understanding with the deputy office which allows them to take class only once a week,” Kaleem said, adding that the teachers were still paid in full.

In Cholistan, five girls schools in Chak 317, 271-1L, 144-5R, 147-5R, and 201-1L are being neglected as the teachers deputed here hardly ever take class. Cholistani residents Hamid Ahmed, Muhammad Sharif, and Muhammad Rafiq demanded that immediate measures be taken so that students received the education they deserved.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2010.