Shangla teachers accused of having fake degrees

BISHAM: Around 45 primary schoolteachers recruited recently in various schools in Shangla district allegedly had fake degrees, sources said.

Sources in the Education Department said that the teachers, who were recently recruited, had allegedly acquired forged degrees from a private sector university in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The sources alleged that at least 55 other teachers using fake degrees were promoted as subject specialists in grade-17. They were also accused of having fake documents.The sources said that a team of the Education Department visited the university in Azad Kashmir to ascertain the veracity of the degrees, but they were told that the degrees were fake and the university had no record.

The Education Department, it was learnt, had initiated an enquiry to ascertain the veracity of the educational documents of teachers secured from the university in question.Interestingly, most of the teachers had neither availed any leave for attending classes or taking the examination.

When contacted, District Education Officer, Shangla, Saeed Khan said that Education Officer Bakht Zada had been sent to Azad Kashmir for the verification of the degrees. He added the official would soon present his report on the alleged fake degrees. “Only after the report is presented the department will be able to take any action,” he said.