Despite cracks, laborers started painting work at a girls primary school in Balochistan's Jhal Magsi: Photo taken from social media

Staff Reporter:

Balochistan education minister, Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind has revealed that thousands of ghost (fake) teachers were taking salaries in the province for many years. “I have ordered an inquiry against all ghost teachers”, the Minister told reporters on Wednesday during a joint press conference with all parliamentary leaders at chief minister’s secretariat.

The education minister’s statement has come after the former secretary education Balochistan, Ghulam Ali Baloch said that the number of non-functional and ghost schools in the province was more than 3,200.

Ghost teachers in thousands in Balochistan: Sardar Rind

Sardar Rind said ghost teachers were withdrawing heavy salaries from the government treasury and it was a burden on the province. “This government will not spare ghost teachers”, he warned.

The minister did not mention the exact number of ghost teachers present in Balochistan. The number of primary, middle, and high school teachers across the province are more than 60,000. Education department sources also say that the number of ghost teachers in the province is also in thousands.

“Our objective is to improve the quality of education and open all schools”, Sardar Rind added.

The number of government-run primary, middle and high schools across the province is close to 14,000.

Education budget

The Balochistan government allocated more than Rs. 75 billion for higher and secondary education during the budget for the financial year 2020-21. A huge amount allocated to bring the province at par with other parts of the country. Ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) has kept education on to of its agenda.

Most of the budget in education is spent on salaries of the teachers and a meager amount is allocated for the promotion of the education sector, the outgoing secretary education Ghulam Ali Baloch said. The number of government teachers in Balochistan is stated to be more than 60,000.

 

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Quetta Voice is an English Daily covering all unfolding political, economic and social issues relating to Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province in terms of area. QV's main focus is on stories related to education, promotion of quality education and publishing reports about out of school children in the province. QV has also a vigilant eye on health, climate change and other key sectors.