LARKANA: Sindh`s Senior Minister for Education Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has said the biometric system launched to monitor the absenteeism of teachers and verifying genuineness of their appointments would continue despite all odds.

Presiding over a meeting of education officers of Larkana division here at the commissioner office on Monday, he said those opposing the biometric system would be handled sternly.

Certain elements who did not want to see the system work had attacked the of fice in Larkana where it was installed and ransacked it. He said it would not be closed and the of ficers concerned were responsible for protecting the system.

He admitted: `We all are responsible for the present plight of education and with firm determination, we could improve it, but all stakeholders should play their due role. A few elements have defamed the education sector and we are criticised for their act.

He said the biometric system would assist in identifying the ghost teachers while a transparent monitoring system would follow it to further assess the situation. He stressedthe ofñcers to increase their efforts in enhancing the enrolment and keeping update the birth and death register of children.

Briefing the minister on the health and education monitoring system established at the commissioner of fice, Larkana Commissioner Ghulam Akbar Leghari said that under the plan, specifically designed forms were initially given to the ofñcers concerned for checking attendance of teachers in some specific schools.

A five-member committee was asked to complete the task within 15 days and the same report after verification by higher officers would be transmitted to the high-ups, he said.

Initially teachers would be verified by their supervisors, the commissioner said.

He said mere suspension and stopping salaries would not work, therefore, the government was considering other punishments.

He said majority of primary and secondary teachers posted in middle schools were found irregular at their duties while the high school teachers were almost regular. He said the system would help remove shortfalls and lacunas gradually.

The minister later visited the health education monitoring system at commissioner of fice.