PESHAWAR (Shahid Jan): Government schools in Khyber district, the home constituency of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, is facing a significant teacher shortage, with 465 teaching positions currently lying vacant, according to official figures submitted to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.
The data shows that the district has 745 government schools, including 403 primary schools and 342 middle, high and higher secondary schools.
A total of 2,317 teachers are currently serving in the district, comprising 1,524 male and 793 female teachers. However, 465 sanctioned posts remain unfilled, including 179 male and 286 female teaching positions.
According to the document, the provincial government has identified education as one of its top priorities and is working to improve access to quality education across the province.
Authorities have issued directives to address infrastructure deficiencies in schools, including repairs, painting, construction of boundary walls, provision of clean drinking water and other essential facilities.
The Elementary and Secondary Education Minister has instructed officials to expedite these improvements, while the Education Secretary remains in regular contact with District Education Officers (DEOs) to monitor progress.
The document further states that the government is also expanding educational infrastructure by establishing new schools and upgrading existing institutions.
Under the draft Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the current fiscal year, 68 new primary schools have been proposed for Khyber district, including 25 for boys and 43 for girls.
In addition, 124 boys’ and girls’ schools have been earmarked for upgradation. The plan includes upgrading 96 primary schools to middle level, 19 middle schools to high schools, and nine high schools to higher secondary level.
The government believes that the planned expansion and upgradation of schools will significantly improve educational access and help address the shortage of educational facilities in the district, although the large number of vacant teaching posts remains a major challenge.
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