Problem of 'ghost teachers' exists on limited scale

The problem of 'ghost teachers' exists even in the city of Karachi but on a limited scale. This was pointed out by the Executive District Officer (EDO) Education, City District Government Karachi (CDGK), Ms. Fakhar Karim.
She was speaking in the `Bilmushafa' programme of Radio Pakistan Karachi, which was broadcast on Sunday. Karim said that the problem of `ghost teachers' also exists in Karachi but on a slight scale as compared to other areas in the province. It was less in the metropolis as far as the female teachers are concerned.
She pointed out that by strengthening the monitoring system this problem has been checked and many such teachers have been caught who were getting the salaries while sitting at home.
The EDO Education also pointed out that the dropout rate has been effectively checked in the past couple of years and that the enrolment in schools in Karachi has increased but some decline has been witnessed in the slum areas of the metropolis for which required steps have been initiated. Education has been made free, text books are being distributed free of charge. Now dictionaries are also being given to the students free.
She said that steps are also being taken to help bridge the gap between the government schools often called `Peelay schools' and those in the private sector.
Ms. Karim said that measures are being taken to make available basic facilities in the government-run schools. The subject of English is being introduced from class I. Science and Mathematics would also be taught in English.
The teachers would also be imparted training so as to equip them to discharge their responsibilities in an effective manner so that the children enrolled in the government schools be able to compete with those enrolled in the private schools.
She further pointed out that an integrated system of teaching is also being introduced to lessen the weight of the school bags.
She said that the system of schools management committee (SMC) is also being strengthened further. The 'adopt a school' scheme is also in vogue since 1996.
Karim said that there has been shortage of teachers owing to a ban on recruitment for over a decade. At least in the field of education such a ban should be removed to help provide the required number of teachers in the government schools.