Prolonged absence of teachers triggers protest in Shangla

ALPURI: Dozens of schoolgirls, their parents and local elders in the far off Pir Khana area in Shangla district on Tuesday staged a protest over the prolonged absence of teachers from their school.

The students of Pir Khana Girls Middle School along with their parents and locals gathered at Shangla Press Club in Alpuri and later moved to the town’s central square, demanding immediate government action.

Protesters carried placards calling for the right to education and accountability from the education department. According to residents, only one TT teacher has been regularly attending, while other assigned staff have consistently failed to report for duty.

They said despite repeated complaints and written appeals, no effective action had been taken. The parents criticised the provincial government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), pointing out the contradiction between its claims of educational reform and the stark ground realities in backward areas like Shangla. Following the protest, a meeting was held at the office of the assistant commissioner Alpuri between the protesters and officials from the education department. District Education Officer (Female), Parveen Rehman, responded swiftly, suspending two absentee teachers with immediate effect and issuing suspension orders under letter numbers 1136/41 and 1130/35. She also directed two other teachers to immediately take charge at the affected school.

Rehman informed the protesters that show-cause notices had already been issued to the absentee staff, and their salaries had been withheld prior to this disciplinary action. Additionally, one teacher was directed to report directly to the Directorate of Education.