CHITRAL, April 23: A farewell party was organized for the outgoing district education officer (DEO) Chitral Haji Siraj Mohammad Khan at the Government Centennial Model High School Chitral on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion, speakers from different walks of life said during his two years and two months stay in Chitral the EDO brought revolutionary changes to the education system. They said before posting of Mr Khan to Chitral, there were scores of ghost and proxy teachers who got salaries sitting at their homes without performing any duty.
The DEO not only eliminated the menace of ghost teachers but also recovered the public money they had received as salaries without performing duty. They said Siraj Khan was an honest, hardworking and dedicated officer who also bound all teachers to perform their duty with honesty. He introduced cash prizes for best teachers as a result a large number of teachers got motivated to work with more enthusiasm.
The speakers said Siraj Khan introduced monthly test at each school so as to evaluate teachers’ performance and enhance students’ interest in their studies. He also regularized the financial and budgetary system in the education department. He adjusted 997 teachers in different primary schools on merit without succumbing to pressure from politicians and others. They said there were two government religious schools at Chitral and Drosh established in 1952 but no education officer had ever visited these religious seminaries.
Siraj Khan was the first education officer who visited these Madressas. Speaking on the occasion, Siraj Khan thanked the people of Chitral for giving him respect and praising his services. He stressed upon the education officers and teachers to continue their mission of providing quality education to the children to make Chitral a model district in terms of education.
On this occasion, traditional gifts of Chitrali Chugha (cloak) and cap were presented to the outgoing education officer. The program was organized by All Teaches Coordination Council. Those who spoke on the occasion included Ziauddin, acting principal of GCMHS, Mohammad Ashraf, president All Primary Teachers Association, Molvi Mohammad Yousuf, Noorullah, Hafizuddin, Iftikharuddin, Sultan Mahmood and Professor Ubaidur Rehman.—GH Farooqui