PTI investigating 7,500 teachers for ineffective teaching habits: Atif

Says 10,000 more teachers will be appointed in coming months

PESHAWAR: Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Muhammad Atif Khan said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf plans to strengthen educational institutions. Part of this exercise will involve taking action against teachers who were not performing well.

This was stated in a handout issued on Tuesday. He said this during a live talk show on Pakhtunkhwa Radio in Peshawar on Tuesday.

“Education is one of the most valuable gifts one can give to a nation,” he said, adding the PTI-led provincial government had been allocating “unprecedented” funds to the education sector. “We do not believe in lip service. Our commitment is visible in the form of our concrete steps,” he said.

Teachers

The minister for education said 23,000 teachers were trained last year whereas 23,000 more were under training this year. He added 12,000 teachers had been recruited on merit whereas 10,000 more will be appointed in coming months. “This is an example of our commitment to improve education in the region,” the minister said.

Addressing the issue of teachers with unproductive teaching habits, Muhammad Atif said the issue is currently being addressed through the independent monitoring system. Muhammad Atif added teachers who are performing well on their duties were being awarded cash prizes and tablets.

However, 7,500 teachers who are not performing well are under investigation.

Schools

When asked about the government’s response to repair schools damaged by the earthquake, the minister said hundreds of schools were destroyed and over 1,000 schools had been damaged.

“We have merged various schools to accommodate students from the schools that were damaged,” he said. “In some areas, we have shifted students to makeshift schools in rented buildings until the school premises are rebuilt.”