The elders belonging to Khyber Agency Monday criticised the political administration for carrying out screening of female teachers to overcome absenteeism.
Talking to The News, Maulana Asadullah, Haji Sharif Khan Afridi, Ismail Shah Afridi and Qari Qismatullah Afridi said the political administration was conducting screening of the female teachers in presence of the male officials.They said they were not against the policy but had reservations over the method under which female teachers were supposed to appear before male officials.
They said the political administration should arrange women officials for the purpose, adding that they had their own traditions and culture that didn’t allow women teachers to appear for clearance and screening test before the committee of male officials.
The elders asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor to make the screening process in accordance with tribal traditions. When contacted, Assistant Political Agent of Bara subdivision Nasir Khan said that it was the government policy to scrutinise the government employees from grade 1 to 15, including male and female teachers.
Assistant Political Agent of Bara subdivision Nasir Khan said most of the teachers were not attending schools as they had gone abroad and the education system had been adversely affected in the tribal regions. The official said, “We don’t have any other mechanism except this one and if the elders have any better idea they should share it with us.”
Source: The News.
