BY: SALMAN YOUSAFZAI
PESHAWAR: Several educational institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are grappling with a critical shortage of teaching staff, exposing a stark contrast to the provincial government’s claims of an “educational emergency.” In numerous schools across the province, the student-to-teacher ratio has reached alarming levels, severely impacting the quality of education.
In the provincial capital, Peshawar, the situation is particularly dire. Documents obtained by Pakhtun Digital from the KP Education Department reveal that six schools in Peshawar Town (IV) and one school in the Hassan Khel subdivision are operating with just one teacher each. These institutions collectively enrol over 600 students, whose education is being severely compromised due to the lack of adequate teaching staff.
Sources indicate that in some cases, when the sole teacher is unavailable, Class IV employees—typically non-teaching staff—are forced to step in and manage classes. This practice not only highlights the acute shortage of qualified educators but also raises serious questions about the provincial government’s commitment to addressing the education crisis.
The glaring disparity between the government’s promises and the ground reality has drawn criticism from parents and education activists. They argue that the presence of a single teacher for hundreds of students directly contradicts the government’s proclaimed “educational emergency” and undermines efforts to improve the quality of education in the province.
Parents and activists are now urging the KP government to take immediate action by appointing additional teachers to these understaffed schools. They emphasize that without swift intervention, the education of thousands of students will continue to suffer, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the province’s already struggling education system.
