KP government announces recruitment of 7,946 teachers

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced plans to recruit 7,946 more teachers and deploy them in areas facing a shortage of teaching staff.

Parliamentary Secretary for Education Rajab Abbasi told the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly that teachers would soon be appointed in areas where shortages had been identified. He added that virtual classes would be introduced in areas where providing teachers was not feasible.

Responding to a question from MPA Shahla Bano, Abbasi said a project to construct 32 schools in Abbottabad had been launched during the previous government. Some of the schools had been completed and made functional, while others were in the final stages of construction. 

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He said delays in some projects were caused by the approval of School-Specific Budgetary Estimates (SNEs), adding that classes would begin soon.

Opposition member Ehsanullah raised concerns over outdated and incomplete data provided about schools and students in Kalachi. MPA Pakhtun Yar highlighted delays in the construction of schools in Bannu, while Makhdoom Aftab called for recruitment against vacant Class-IV posts in schools.

The issue of schools in Upper Dir that remained non-functional despite having completed buildings was also raised in the assembly.

MPA Adnan Khan expressed concern over the demolition of the historic building of Bannu School No. 2 and questioned why the record of its 17 inscriptions had not been provided. Abbasi said the building was constructed in 1932 but had to be demolished due to its dilapidated condition. He said the school would be reconstructed.

The parliamentary secretary said 8,437 teachers had been recruited through the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA) since 2024, while another 10,747 had been hired on a temporary basis.

He added that 28 closed schools in Kalachi had been reopened and only two remained closed.

ANP parliamentary leader Arbab Usman expressed concern that education-related problems remained unresolved despite a budget allocation of Rs363 billion for the sector. He called for the formation of a special assembly committee to examine the issues.

Assembly Chairman Abdul Ghani directed the relevant authorities to present a report next week on pending matters related to SNEs for schools.