Balochistan cleansing education department of ghost teachers

Published June 15, 2015
The terminated teachers belonged to Zhob, Quetta, Killa Abdullah, Barkhan, Panjgur and other districts of Balochistan.- Photo: AFP/File
The terminated teachers belonged to Zhob, Quetta, Killa Abdullah, Barkhan, Panjgur and other districts of Balochistan.- Photo: AFP/File

QUETTA: Balochistan Education Department has terminated more than 800 illegal teachers in the province in an ongoing scrutiny, according to Balochistan Education Secretary Saboor Kakar.

While talking to Dawn.com, Kakar said, “Ghost teachers had been drawing salaries from the national exchequer for the last few years.”

The government has also launched a process to verify documents and appointment orders of all teachers working in the province, said the education secretary, adding that in the past, a large number of fake and ghost teachers had succeeded in cementing ties with officers in the education department.

“An inquiry is already underway against officers responsible for payment of salaries to these fake teachers,” Kakar said.

“We have removed their names from our lists rather than terminating them. Since they were never appointed to begin with, we have simply removed their names,” he said.

The education department had already formed an inquiry committee in Quetta and other districts of the province to expose fake and ghost teachers and take action against them. The education secretary said that of the 800 illegal teachers that have been removed, 112 belonged to Quetta— the provincial capital. “Salaries will be recovered from the officers responsible for fake appointments,” Kakar said.

The provincial government has declared emergency with regards to education and announced implementation of article 25-a of the Constitution, which says the state “shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in such manner as may be determined by law.”

Kakar said for the first time in the history of Balochistan, around 24 per cent of the provincial budget had been allocated for the education sector.

But he maintains a major part of these funds were being spent on non-development areas rather than development of the education sector.

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

An audit of polio funds at federal and provincial levels is sorely needed, with obstacles hindering eradication efforts targeted.
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...