BAMYAN CITY (Pajhwok): At least six-month salaries of over 2,750 contract-based teachers in central Bamyan province have not been paid, forcing some of them into manual labour for making ends meet.
More than 145,000 students including 70,000 girls study in 270 schools in Bamyan. They are being taught by 2,850 permanent and 2,750 contract-based teachers, officials say.
According to the Education Department, more than 17,000 students were enrolled in schools this year, including 50 percent girls.
But contract-based teachers complained they had not been paid over the last six months, forcing some to leave their jobs and other to do manual labour to feed their families.
Mohammad Ali, one of the teachers in Wars district, told Pajhwok Afghan News he was forced to quit due to non-payment of salaries. “I have no choice but to do manual work to feed my five-member family.”
He vehemently criticised education department officials, asking if they could not pay their salaries why they were hired in the first place.Every now and then, he visits the school to check if his salaries had come.
Mohammad Hassan Asadi, Bamyan provincial council member, said these teachers had complained to them many times on the issue.“The education ministry should take up the issue without further delay.”
He added they had held discussions with local officials but the problem lie with education and finance ministries that had shown negligence. The provincial council has suggestedregularising theservices of contract-based teachers.
Mohammad Reza Ada, education director, confirmed some teachers had left their jobs due to non-payment of salaries. However, he did not put a specific figureon their number.
If their salaries were not paid, he warned, the education system in the province would be negatively affected. “We have shared the issue with the ministry and they have promised to resolve it soon.”
hg/mud