Academic woes: Absent - too few teachers in MC schools
Severe staff shortage due to departmental inaction.
Maulana Rasheed said MC schools’ teachers have not been given any increment since the merger.
RAWALPINDI:
The Rawalpindi Education Department has failed to make the much needed recruitment in the 49 MC schools of the district.
“There is a shortage of six to seven teachers in nearly every school,” said Punjab Municipal Teachers’ Union District President Maulana Abdur Raheed.
He said teachers had not been recruited since 1990 when municipal corporation (MC) schools were merged with government schools. He also claimed that hundreds of teachers are waiting for promotion. They have informed the department of the shortage. The rationalisation policy was only for schools under the direct control of the executive district officer (EDO) Education, he said.
Some teachers complained that staff shortage affects overall performance. “Teachers are punished for poor results. We’re issued notices and face the possibility of a deduction in salary,” a teacher said. Teachers are then forced to move the courts and a long process of litigation against our own department begins, he added.
Muhammad Zia Awan, another teacher, claimed that the department had no plans to recruit staff nor were schools allowed to hire teachers on contract.
“They are not concerned about the future of thousands of children and always make lame excuses such as funds shortage, or awaiting approval from the chief minister’s office.” Currently, over 10,000 children are enrolled in the schools according to teachers.
Maulana Rasheed said MC schools’ teachers have not been given any increment since the merger.
When contacted, EDO Qazi Zahoorul Haq said that 902 candidates were recruited, out of which 710 have joined. We’ll recruit more teachers during summer vacations to overcome the shortage, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2014.
The Rawalpindi Education Department has failed to make the much needed recruitment in the 49 MC schools of the district.
“There is a shortage of six to seven teachers in nearly every school,” said Punjab Municipal Teachers’ Union District President Maulana Abdur Raheed.
He said teachers had not been recruited since 1990 when municipal corporation (MC) schools were merged with government schools. He also claimed that hundreds of teachers are waiting for promotion. They have informed the department of the shortage. The rationalisation policy was only for schools under the direct control of the executive district officer (EDO) Education, he said.
Some teachers complained that staff shortage affects overall performance. “Teachers are punished for poor results. We’re issued notices and face the possibility of a deduction in salary,” a teacher said. Teachers are then forced to move the courts and a long process of litigation against our own department begins, he added.
Muhammad Zia Awan, another teacher, claimed that the department had no plans to recruit staff nor were schools allowed to hire teachers on contract.
“They are not concerned about the future of thousands of children and always make lame excuses such as funds shortage, or awaiting approval from the chief minister’s office.” Currently, over 10,000 children are enrolled in the schools according to teachers.
Maulana Rasheed said MC schools’ teachers have not been given any increment since the merger.
When contacted, EDO Qazi Zahoorul Haq said that 902 candidates were recruited, out of which 710 have joined. We’ll recruit more teachers during summer vacations to overcome the shortage, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2014.