Off duty: Teachers suspended for being absent without leave

Kohistan’s DEO says Rs2.2 million recovered from teachers receiving increments unlawfully

SWABI/ KOHISTAN: At least 16 female teachers were suspended in Kohistan for being absent from duty without informing the school administration.

Kohistan District Education Officer (DEO) Khan Muhammad informed during a raid at different schools in the district on Wednesday that 21 female teachers were found missing during duty hours. He added it was learnt that they had not been coming to work for months without obtaining any prior permission.

Show-cause notices were served to the 21 teachers out of which five have replied with genuine excuses and apologised with assurance of not repeating it in the future. The rest were declared guilty and suspended.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Muhammad said they have also recovered Rs2.2 million from teaching staff receiving annual increments unlawfully.

Meanwhile, two senior school teachers deployed at Government High School for Boys in Kotha village were suspended for being absent from duty during a visit of the Swabi DEO on Wednesday.

DEO Abdul Salam said he along with other education department officials paid a surprise visit to the school. He said the inspection was carried out after receiving complaints from parents of students that these teachers were slacking in their duties and were often absent. The department then took action and raided the school after which two teachers were suspended.

Salam said notifications of suspension were sent to the teachers and the education secretary while an inquiry has been launched into the matter. “Soon a final decision will be taken against them,” he added.