DADU, Sept 27: As many as 358 primary schools have remained closed for many years due to non-availability of staff and 200 posts of primary teachers are lying vacant in running schools of the district's seven talukas.

This correspondent learnt on Monday that 24 primary schools in Mehar, 48 in Khairpur Nathan Shah, 57 in Dadu, 57 in Sehwan, 38 in Kotri, 56 in Johi and 78 in Thana Bula Khan were closed.

The district officer, elementary education, Asghar Ali Leghari, said out of 2,608 primary schools, 2,288 were functioning and 320 were closed. He said 310,723 boys and girls were getting education in Sindhi medium schools and 15,727 were getting education in Urdu medium schools from class-I to VIII.

He said buildings of 320 schools had been constructed but due to non-availability of staff and budget, the schools had remained closed since 1985. He said most of the buildings were being used as Autaqs by feudal lords.

Mr Leghari confirmed that 200 posts of primary teachers were lying vacant in the district. He said 1,000 teachers needed to be appointed to make the closed schools functional. Meanwhile, the district nazim has constituted a team, comprising five members of the district council, to investigate the alleged embezzlement in funds of school management committees.

SURVEY: A high-level team visited Nai Gaj near Gaj Bungalow, Nai Taki and Nai Sori in Kachho area on Saturday and conducted a survey for construction of the Nai Gaj dam.

The team, comprising Sindh additional chief secretary for development Ghulam Sarwar Khero, irrigation secretary Ashfaq Memon, works and services secretary Saood Faisal and MPA Dr Manzoor Leghari, visited the area on a directive of Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim.

The secretary for irrigation assured villagers that after construction of the dam, water would be provided to people of Kachho for irrigation and drinking purposes. He further said water flow in the Manchhar Lake would continue because only surplus water would be stored in the dam.

MPA Leghari said the team would submit its report to the chief minister in 10 days. He said it would decide to construct one big dam or two small dams on rain drains of Nai Gaj, Nai Sori and Nai Taki. Meanwhile, District Nazim Malik Asad Sikandar said Sindh and federal governments would provide funds for the project.