900 vacant teacher posts affect students in Paktika

SHARAN (Pajhwok): Around 900 teacher posts remain vacant in southeastern Paktika province, taking a heavy toll on the future of students, residents complained on Sunday.

They called upon the government to appoint teachers against the vacant positions to overcome school staff shortages in the province.

Haji Meerak, a resident of Warmamai district, told Pajhwok Afghan News the issue of vacant positions in schools in his area had been addressed for many years.

“I am an ex-head of education for Warmamai. There have been many vacant teacher posts in the district, a long-running problem that is yet to be resolved”, Meerak remarked.

Addressing the problem would have a positive effect on the education process, he hoped.

Sadar Khan, a teacher in remote Giyan district, confirmed teacher shortages had affected the quality of education.

“I am a volunteer with the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS). There are vacant positions at different schools. Children cannot study as they should,” Khan commented.

If teacher shortages were overcome, the quality of education would definitely improve, he hoped.

The Paktika Education Department, meanwhile, acknowledged the existence of 900 teacher vacancies in the province.

Abdul Qayoum Farooqi, deputy director of education, said 600 of the vacant positions had been advertised. He revealed 1,100 of 1,300 applicants had been shortlisted for tests.

Among the shortlisted candidates, there were 26 female applicants, who would also be appointed as teachers if they qualified the test, Farooqi added.

Efforts were being made to fill all the vacant positions with professional teachers in the upcoming academic year, he concluded.

Paktika is Afghanistan’s southeastern province, where 4,458 teachers are currently serving at 412 schools.

aw/mud