DADU, Sept 19: A large number of primary teachers, residents and political activists organised a protest on Wednesday against the shortage of furniture and books at primary schools and their dilapidated condition.

The protest was led by the district president of Primary Teachers Association (PTA), Inyat Hussain Jamali, and social activists Abbas Vighio and Zamir Korejo. The protesters marched through the city and observed a token hunger strike outside the Dadu Press Club.

According to Mr Jamali, 90 per cent of the watchmen, sweepers and peons do not work and yet take their salaries regularly. Around 50 per cent of the schools buildings have not been repaired since 2010.

Mr Vighio said that a large number of students studied at schools with no roof. He alleged that 80 per cent of the primary teachers did not work and claimed their salaries.

Mr Korejo said that fake appointments of junior and higher schoolteachers, clerks and lower staff were made by education officers in the district. The district education officer in Dadu, Mohammad Saffar Kachhar, claimed that free education was being provided to all students in the district. Funds were released to school management committees for the repair of school buildings and purchasing furniture.

Mr Kachhar said that a survey would be conducted to verify the list of damaged school buildings and recommendations would be sent to the government for their repair and renovation.

Talking about the appointment of ghost teachers, the education office said that he did not know of any fake appointments.

However, he said, he had directed the assistant district officers to make unannounced visits to schools in their sub-divisions and punish any teacher found absent.