Moalims

PESHAWAR: Government schools in Peshawar criticised the education department after one of its officers was accused of minting money from several schools to print examination papers of primary classes.

However, the education official termed these allegations baseless on Saturday and denied his involvement.

Peshawar’s City Circle Assistant Education Officer Ihsanullah Shah is in hot water these days over his alleged illegal activity. Several heads of schools in the city slammed the official for demanding money from them to print exams papers for October.

A school principal, on condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune, “The education officer has compelled the management of various schools to pay money from the parent-teacher council (PTC) fund. As his school does not maintain such a fund, it forced students to pay Rs10 each for the said purpose and gave him Rs8,000.”

He added officials of the education department would photocopy exam papers for primary classes in the past, but now schools have the added burden of getting papers printed for students.

A school teacher, wishing not to be named, said his school also paid Rs4,000 to the education officer. He added that as per PTC rules, each school contributes Rs7,000 per room annually and the amount is used mainly to paint rooms and purchase stationery.

When The Express Tribune contacted Ihsanullah Shah for a comment, he denied the allegations. “I have not asked the schools to force the students to pay money. Instead, we get the money from the PTC fund which is a mere Rs1 per paper.” He added in schools lacking a PTC fund, the administration asked students to pay the money.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2015.