Spies to monitor teachers playing truant

By Tariq Naqash in The Dawn, Nov 5

MUZAFFARABAD, Nov 4: Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider issued on Wednesday a stern warning to teachers against absenteeism, saying the government would take punitive measures to arrest the unfortunate trend.

Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of AJK Headmasters Association, Mr Haider announced that the government would monitor the attendance of teachers in schools through intelligence agencies which were supposed to serve as its eyes and ears and update it on the working of official machinery.

The prime minister pointed out that a righteous head of any educational institution could keep the system in proper working order, but the principals with otherwise tendencies could not ensure attendance and punctuality on the part of their subordinate teachers.

“I would advice such teachers to quit this profession,” he said while expressing the hope that teachers’ organisations would not come up with requests for undue favours in the face of action against their guilty members.

Mr Haider said transfer of a government servant was part of service and teachers’ organisations should work out a policy for that by themselves in consultation with the education minister.

He stressed upon teachers to create a good atmosphere in their respective institutions and instil moral values into students to make them law abiding citizens.

The prime minister said since the teachers were associated with the noblest profession their responsibilities were higher than other professionals.

He assured that all problems of the teacher community would be resolved within the state resources but he would not make any announcement which he could not fulfil afterwards.

“Our state’s financial health is not very good and I would ensure that whatever resources it generated or obtained are spent in all fairness and honesty,” he said.

The prime minister, who carries the repute of an outspoken politician, said he would not compromise on his principles.

“If I felt that I cannot discharge my responsibilities with honour and dignity I will sidestep instead of sticking to this chair,” he said.

Earlier, Minister for Education (Schools) Noreen Arif and several others also spoke to the gathering. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/national/spies-to-monitor-teachers-playing-truant-519