AWARAN: Over 950 teacher posts are vacant in District Awaran, and more than 350 schools are non-functional, including primary, middle, and high schools. There has been no action taken for decades regarding the non-functional schools in Awaran. More than half of the teachers in the district are ghost teachers; they are absent from their duties. A few of them have assigned someone else to their duties, paying a single amount of 8,000 to 10,000 per month. Most of them have political support, which does not allow authorities to take action against them.
However, a few have admitted to giving a small amount of money to the former District Education Officer (DEO) to account for their absence. For instance, Ishfaq Ahmed, an activist with Bezinjo Karwan, did not attend his duty for a single day. He is a teacher at Perander School in Awaran. Likewise, many other teachers with similar political support have been active on social media sites like Facebook, participating in debates defending Bezinjo Karwan. The former Chief Minister of Balochistan, Mir Abdul Qudoos Bezinjo, named his cabinet “Bezinjo Karwan” in the district.
A member of the Baloch Student Organization (BSO) Central Committee from Awaran, Shafiq Mehr, ran a campaign against ghost teachers a few months ago. He stated that no action has been taken against them yet. He claims there are significant barriers behind the ghost teachers and added that Bezinjo Karwan is responsible for them. They supported them for their vote bank, while the DEO kept taking money from those who did not belong to Bezinjo Karwan. He discussed this report with Deputy Commissioner Awaran, Saeed Ahmed Dummar.
DC Awaran said, “As far as our information is concerned, there are no ghost schools or teachers. However, there are a significant number of non-functional schools (over 100), mainly due to the vacant posts of teachers in said schools”.
He further mentioned that they are facing an acute shortage of teachers, with 50% of the teaching posts in Awaran vacant. Over the years, 100 teachers have retired, and the Secondary Education Department has not made any new recruitments.
“Since assuming office, I have made 14 schools functional by hiring teachers with the help of the community, shuffling teachers, and canceling assignments. Likewise, we have issued show causes to over 60 teachers and deducted pay; about 35 have reported to their respective schools, while 25 have been issued final show causes.” The DC said.
He further mentioned that these measures should improve things in the new academic year. With the new DEO, he hopes for further improvement. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is about to advertise teaching positions as per the directions of the Honorable High Court. The case/summary of 390 intern teachers is on the table of the Secretary of Finance for budgetary considerations. Once resolved, the issue of non-functional schools will be addressed.
There are only 4 inter-colleges in the vast district, covering a total area of 29,510 km2, including only one-degree college that lacks sufficient lecturers. There is no English teacher in the degree college in Awaran.
Principal Muhammad Aslam said, “The College has only two hours of electricity, and there are no lecturers for botany, Islamiat, sociology, statistics, zoology, and math subjects. There are only 8 lecturers in the college, which is insufficient to cover all the subjects.” He further said classes for boys and girls are conducted regularly in the degree college. However, teachers who teach girls’ classes have been deprived of remuneration this year. Many colleges across Balochistan were closed from the beginning. The amount of remuneration given is meager, less than 20% of the college’s requirements. Lecturers at the degree college have written to them that they will not continue teaching girls’ classes.
The dilapidated condition of the only degree college in Awaran is indicative of the existing issues at the college. What will be the conditions of primary and high schools in other far-flung areas of the district?
The former CM of Balochistan, Abdul Qudoos Bezinjo, ruled Awaran for many years. He was elected twice as the CM of Balochistan but failed to deliver. When Khairjan Baloch was elected MPA, the transfer of officers began. In this context, the former DEO of Awaran, Riaz Ahmed, has also been transferred. So far, the appointment of a new DEO in the district has not been implemented. When asked about this report, DC Awaran expressed hope that, with the support of the new DEO, they would take possible steps to tackle the education issues in the district.
It is hoped that DC Awaran, Saeed Ahmed Damar, will take strict measures to address the educational problems in Awaran.