Teacher Shortage Closes Seven Bara Girls Schools
A severe shortage of teachers, compounded by security concerns, has forced the closure of seven government girls’ primary schools in Bara, while 101 teaching posts and 34 non-teaching positions remain vacant across the sub-division. The closures are affecting girls’ education in the area, and staff shortages are also disrupting teaching in schools that remain open.
According to figures from the Sub-Divisional Education Office (Female) Bara, of the 310 sanctioned teaching posts in government primary schools in Bara tehsil, only 209 are filled. Non-teaching staff sanctioned strength stands at 270, of which 236 posts are occupied. Primary School Teacher positions number 145 sanctioned with 81 filled and 64 vacant. Primary School Head Teacher posts total 143 with 106 filled and 37 vacant. All 22 Trained Teacher posts are occupied. Among non-teaching staff, 142 of 143 chowkidar posts and 94 of 127 Class-IV caretaker posts are filled.
Which schools are closed, and why
Documents from the education department show that of Bara’s 142 government girls’ primary schools, seven are closed, four for lack of teachers and three because of the law-and-order situation. Schools closed due to teacher unavailability include Government Girls Primary School Haji Mina Dar Khan Kalay Akakhel, Government Girls Primary School Tangi Nazar Khel Bargambar Khel, Government Girls Primary School Ham Kalay Tarkhuks Upper Bara and Government Girls Primary School Khuga Jan Bara.
Those shut over security issues are Government Girls Primary School Zale Khan Tirah, Government Girls Primary School Muhammad Din Shah and Government Girls Primary School Khwaja Kalay Tirah.
Sub-Divisional Education Officer (Female) Bara Shakeela Hussain told The Express Tribune that rising student numbers have deepened the crisis. Most primary schools in the sub-division have only one or two permanent female teachers, yet some now enrol as many as 500 girls. Government girls’ primary schools in Bara currently have 24,500 students, with admissions continuing until December.
Temporary teachers, and a request for more
Through the Parent-Teacher Council, 282 local candidates have been selected against 300 female teacher posts. They will serve until the end of the current academic session, and their appointment has already boosted admissions. Hussain said permanent recruitment through the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency remains essential, and a request has been submitted for 333 additional Parent-Teacher Council teachers.
The distinction between temporary and permanent staff is the heart of the problem. Temporary teachers appointed through parent-teacher councils can keep classrooms open for a session, but they do not solve a vacancy list of 101 teaching posts. Permanent recruitment through the testing agency is slower, and until it happens, schools will keep depending on stopgap appointments.
The temporary Sub-Divisional Education Office (Female) itself faces practical problems. Housed in a single room inside the Bara Tehsil Building, near district administration, sub-jail and police offices, the location creates access difficulties for female teachers and parents. The office also lacks a washroom for women. Local elders and parents have urged the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa governor to shift the office immediately to the Municipal Building in Bara for the convenience of women teachers and girls’ parents.
A district-wide pattern
District-wide figures underline the scale of the challenge. Khyber district has 747 government schools, 406 for boys and 341 for girls, comprising 588 primary, 87 middle, 51 high, six higher secondary, six mosque and six DSS schools. The district employs 1,149 female and 1,586 male teachers.
Twenty-five government primary schools in the district operate with a single teacher: 16 in Bara, seven in Landi Kotal and two in Jamrud. Of these, seven are boys’ schools and 18 girls’ schools. In Bara alone, three boys’ schools and 13 girls’ schools run with one teacher each.
Frequently asked questions
How many girls’ schools are closed in Bara?
Seven government girls’ primary schools, four for lack of teachers and three because of the law-and-order situation.
How many teaching posts are vacant?
101 teaching posts and 34 non-teaching positions are vacant across the Bara sub-division, out of 310 sanctioned teaching posts.
How many students do Bara’s girls’ primary schools enrol?
24,500 students, with admissions continuing until December.
What temporary step has been taken?
Through the Parent-Teacher Council, 282 local candidates have been selected against 300 female teacher posts, to serve until the end of the current academic session.
What is needed for a permanent fix?
Permanent recruitment through the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency, according to the sub-divisional education officer, plus a request for 333 additional Parent-Teacher Council teachers.
