Governor model schools in merged districts brought under KP govt scope

Wasim Sajjad

PESHAWAR: The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has issued a notification for the formation of the Board of Governors (BoG) to extend the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Education & Testing Institution Ordinance, 1971 to Governor Model Schools (GMS) in merged tribal districts.

The governor model schools across the merged districts faced issues of pending salaries of teachers and other financial issues after the amendment in the Constitution of Pakistan and the abolishment of Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR).

Previously, these schools were administered by the political agents and salaries of teachers and other expenses were given from the political agents’ funds. The notification was extended to eight governor model schools, two each in Mohmand, Kurram, North Waziristan and South Waziristan.

The said schools were in limbo after the merger of erstwhile Fata with KP. After the board of governors reached a conclusion, the schools will come under the scope of the government of KP.

Earlier TNN reported when the students of Governor Model School in Ghallanai held a presser at Mohmand Press Club on November 19, 2020 that the students warned to launch a protest if the problem remained unresolved. They said that the teachers of the school had boycotted classes and they had not attended even a single class for almost a week.

The teachers of Governor Model School Ghallanai alleged on November 19, 2020, that their salaries were not paid for six months.

When the FCR was abolished, the schools had no funding source left. Last year, the chief minister issued a yearly grant. However, teachers of several schools shut down classes as they had no salaries. The issue of the teachers’ salaries will be solved once the BoG submits its statement of estimated receipts and expenditure for the next year. After the FCR was abolished, the schools didn’t fall under the scope of the government of KP.

According to clause 15 of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Educational & Training Institution Ordinance, 1971, “The Board shall submit a statement of estimated receipts and expenditure in respect of the next financial year to government for approval, at such time and in such manner as may be prescribed and shall give effect to any modification made therein by government.”

A source who didn’t want to mention his name told TNN that they have struggled a lot to achieve this success. He said that special support of the tribal elders and Provincial Task Force (PTD) had made it possible. The source said that they would leave no stone unturned to promote education in tribal districts. He added that this was a great step by the government and the regularisation and assistance of the government will play a key role in bringing peace and education in the war-torn tribal districts.

Tribal News Network tried to reach to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) minister Kamran Bangash to take his version on the development. However, he didn’t respond. This correspondent sent several messages to him and he read it but didn’t respond to TNN.