Teacher shortage mars working of girls' schools

By Saleem Elahi CHITRAL, June 20: A large number of girl students in government schools here are still facing problems in getting better education only because of the shortage of teachers of respective subjects. Sources in the education department told this scribe here that against the total shortage of 16 female teachers, the government sanctioned 16 posts for recruitment in primary, middle and high schools for Khot Union Council. In this connection, Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti in January this year had also allocated funds for completig the recruitment process. As per directives of the chief minister, the education directorates invited applications from the intending candidates through print media for test and interview to fill the vacant posts.  According to sources, the posts of 16 lady teachers would remain vacant and would not be filled. The shortage of teachers has not been met fully and still 16 posts remain vacant in Union Council Khot, Torkhow. As a result of failure of concerned authorities to fill the overall gap, there is dearth of teachers in the educational institutions, largely affecting the studies of the students particularly getting education in high schools. The students having no option left hire the services of private tutors at their homes who charge huge fees for teaching one subject. It remains beyond the reach and limits of poor students to pay exorbitant fees to the private tutors. A good number of students also get education in private academics for achieving better results in exams. The charges of private academic institutions are also sky rocketing. The students in order to pay huge fees to the private tutors and private classes, also do part time jobs at night time in private departments , shops etc. Executive District Officer (EDO), Education, Chitral district, Siraj Muhammad said the remaining vacant posts would also be filled within the next a couple of months. He said funds were allocated for fill the vacant posts. On the other hand, the president of All Chitral Teachers Association said in many schools there were surplus teachers. “The shortage of teachers could be overcome by transferring the surplus teachers to those institutions where the problem occurs. But this is not being done due to poor governance and improper system and planning of the concerned officials in the educational directorates,” he alleged. He requested the EDO Education to provide teachers to Govt Girls Primary School Khot Bala, Govt Girls Primary School Khot Payeen, Govt Girls Primary School Zanglashst and Govt High School Khot for smooth running of education. He said a large number of girl students in Union Council i.e. Khot Bala, Khot Payeen, Zanglasht, Ujnu, Rech and Shotkhar were still facing problems in getting better education only because of the shortage of lady teachers.]]>