In a first, dept appoints teacher as head of Local Governance School.

Byline: Mohammad Ashfaq

PESHAWAR -- In an unprecedented move, the local government department has appointed a college teacher as the head of the province's only local governance training institute ignoring its more than 20 senior officers awaiting posting.

The Local Governance School has been led by senior officials of the department with expertise in local body system since it became functional around 20 years ago, sources told Dawn.

They also said around 20 college teachers had been serving in various government departments and directorates other than the higher education department on deputation, while the higher education department has long been facing a shortage of around 1500 teachers.

A notification issued on Dec 30 says: 'The competent authority in LG department is pleased to post Mr. Muhammad Inam Khan Yousafzai, assistant professor (law) BPS-18, Government Degree College, Garhi Kapura Mardan against the post of Director, BPS 19 Local Governance School, Local Council Board Hayatabad, in his own pay and scale on usual terms and conditions of deputation with immediate effect.'

Mr Yousafzai has been working in the LG department on deputation for few months.

LG secretary says posting meant for teaching purpose

The sources said the higher education department hadn't appointed the successor of Mr Yousafzai, so the administration of his college, the Government College, Garhi Kapura, Mardan, was struggling to arrange a law teacher to take his classes.

They said the college had no permanent law teacher for few months, so the administration requested the teacher of another college to teach students on a temporary basis.

Sources said the college administration would hire a teacher from the private sector as a stopgap arrangement and that he...