Pakistan: Teacher shortage forces several government schools for girls to shut down in Shangla

In the same district, the majority of primary schools for girls have been operating with a single teacher since 2023.

Official sources told Dawn that over a dozen schools in parts of Shangla had been completely closed since January 2023 when the caretaker government in the province was installed.

They told the NewsChannel that the teachers were transferred to their preferred educational institute following recommendation by local leaders.

The sources said six primary schools had been non-functional since their establishment in the last five years.

They said the directorate of education in Peshawar was requested many times for the appointment of staff, but no action was taken.

The sources told the newspaper that the schools in remote areas were either closed or had just one teacher due to the transfer of others in the last two years.

Mufti Mehmood of Chichlo told Dawn that his village had a girls’ primary school but it had been non-functional for two years.

Chichlo said the schools were currently used as guest house.