GHALANAI: Teachers of two model schools in Mohmand tribal district on Tuesday boycotted classes to press the government for payment of their salaries which had been stopped since May 2018 after the Fata-KP merger.

The students of the two schools also protested in front of Mohmand Press Club in Ghalanai and chanted the slogan ‘release our teachers’ salaries’.

Abid Khan Mohmand, a teacher of Governor Model School, Ghalanai, said that the salaries of at least 44 employees of the Governor Model Schools in Mamad Gat and Ghalanai had been stopped since May 2018.

He said that both the schools were opened on the directives of deputy commissioner, but the staff was yet to get their salaries. He said that they had been facing financial problems.

Claim they have not been paid salaries since May 2018 after Fata-KP merger

Residents of the area said that studies of about 1,000 students were being affected due to frequent strikes of the employees for payment of their dues. The teachers’ salaries and other dues were earlier paid from the Agency Development Fund, which had been abolished after the Fata-KP merger.

The teachers of the two schools have demanded of the KP governor to order immediate release of their salaries so that they could discharge their duties with peace of mind.

SCHOOL LACKS FACILITIES: The primary school for boys, Prang Ghar, in Tarakai tehsil is without water, electricity and other basic facilities.

The two-room school was opened in 1993 and over 100 students are enrolled there, but it still lacks furniture and electricity. Also, there are no bathrooms and playground for the students.

During a visit to the school, it was observed that most of the students were sitting on torn mats in the open as the education department didn’t provide them with desks and chairs.

The teachers said that no repair work had been carried out in the school since its opening. When contacted, an official of the district education office said a written request had been sent to the merged areas education director for provision of the facilities and reconstruction of the school.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2019