Ashirat School Chitral: The case of missing teachers

By Gul Hamaad Farooqi

Chitral, April 10: Majority of the teachers of Government Boys High School and Girls Primary School in Ashriat village were absent and the schools were shut down at 12 O’clock noon. Many of the youngsters were playing with stones in their boundary less school.

Human Rights Activists Qazi Sajjad Ahmad advocate, Javed and Iftikhar Ahmad expressed their great concern over illegal and untimely closure of the schools. They said that the position of headmaster at the high school is laying vacant  for the last two years. They said that the Acting-Headmaster was also on leave.

A senior teacher told this scribe that the school has neither the science laboratory and computer lab, nor a playground for the children. He said that around 550 students, including girls, are enrolled at the school. He also said that there is no furniture in the school for the students.

The Deputy Commissioner of Chitral and District Education Officer Nisar Muhammad Khan have promised to take action against the absent teachers and attempt to resolve the issues.

During the visit of Govt Girls primary School Sheradesh local people revealed that there are only two female teachers but one teacher, Miss Sakina, has been absent for the last 7 years. They said that she never performed her duty and visits the school after 4 months. They also said that the colleagues of the said teacher are filling her attendance register on daily basis. In this connection this scribe visited District Education Officer Mr Zehra Jalal but she was not present at her office. The staff members said that Sakina’s salary has been stopped but no show-cause notice has been sent in her name. 

Residents of the area demanded from provincial government for taking action against the absent teachers and provide the missing facilities to the students.