Moalims

PESHAWAR: A biometric system has been installed in colleges across the province. The government has introduced the initiative to ensure timely attendance of lecturers and find innovative means to streamline the education system.

Speaking to journalists at the office of the information department, Special Assistant to Chief Minister for Information and Higher Education Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani said the system has been installed to regularise ghost lecturers.

Recruitment

“In 2015, the revised budget for higher education was Rs4 billion which has been increased to Rs6 billion in 2016-17,” he said. “This year, around 800 new teachers will be recruited for new colleges as compared to 900 who were employed in 2015.”

According to Ghani, 200 lecturers were absent from their duties during the last few years.

“Action will be taken against them,” he added.

Opening new vistas

The special assistant said 230 government colleges for male and female were functional. “Meanwhile, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to increase the number of colleges,” he said. “At least 60 new colleges will be constructed across the province.”

At this juncture, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government has allocated Rs4 billion in the 2016-17 budget for the construction of new colleges, creation of new posts and for the provision of latest equipment in colleges.

In a first

Ghani said the provincial government will establish quality enhancement units for the first time in the province.

“These units will consist of education experts and will be headed by the higher education secretary,” he said. “The aim of the unit will be to improve the education system and keep a check on the quality of education at colleges.”

The special assistant also flayed the Public Service Commission for recruiting new staff through a slow and steady process.

“Teaching staff is needed on an urgent basis,” he said. “Following delays in recruitment, staff has to be appointed on either a contract or ad hoc basis.” Ghani said the government had also allocated funds for the reconstruction of all those colleges which were destroyed by natural disasters.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2016.