40 Double-Shift Schools Closed in KP

Notably, an audit has raised serious questions regarding the Double-Shift Schools Program in Charsadda, saying the administration spent Rs130.470 million on the scheme in 2021-22 and 2022-23, yet 40 schools afterwards closed as of low or zero enrolment.

Key points

• As the report notes, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration rolled out the program in the 2021-22 academic session and afterwards expanded it to 1, 505 schools in 27 districts.
• Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.
• The audit further flagged unauthorized stipend payments of Rs 13.497 million to teachers during summer vacations and recommended recovery of the amount.
• It additionally highlighted a major mismatch in student enrolment records in seven girls' schools, saying the EMIS data demonstrated 447 students while school reports listed only 339.
• An Education Department official remarked the report will be taken up by the Public Accounts Committee and action will follow against those responsible.

In practice, the performance audit report of the Auditor General of Pakistan remarked the program suffered from fragile planning, poor school selection, flawed recruitment, ineffective monitoring, and financial irregularities. It additionally pointed to the presence of ghost students in official records.

As the report notes, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration rolled out the program in the 2021-22 academic session and afterwards expanded it to 1, 505 schools in 27 districts. In Charsadda alone, 106 schools were included, and the Finance Department published Rs130.470 million for teacher stipends in the district. Punjab Slaps Property Tax on Home Tuition, Academies and Coaching Centres.

For context, the audit remarked office-holders failed to carry out a proper feasibility study, needs assessment, or target-setting before launching the scheme. Consequently, the program could not achieve its main goal of reducing overcrowding in administration schools.

It additionally identified that nine schools were included in the program despite not session the required overcrowding criteria. The report remarked funds continued to go to some non-functional schools even after district authorities requested denotification.

Notably, the audit further flagged unauthorized stipend payments of Rs 13.497 million to teachers during summer vacations and recommended recovery of the amount. Punjab Approves New Contracts for School Teaching Interns.

It additionally highlighted a major mismatch in student enrolment records in seven girls' schools, saying the EMIS data demonstrated 447 students while school reports listed only 339. The report cautioned that the gap triggered concern concerning ghost students and pressed stronger monitoring.

Notably, an Education Department official remarked the report will be taken up by the Public Accounts Committee and action will follow against those responsible. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

Obtain the latest education news, admissions updates, and scholarship alerts wherever you prefer. Follow on Google Discover.

Add as a preferredSource on Google Follow on Google News Join WhatsApp.

For now, 40 Double remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.