LAKKI MARWAT: The district chapter of the All Primary Teachers Association has demanded promotion of primary schoolteachers and their posting to the vacant posts of certified teachers in the middle, high and higher secondary schools.

The demand was made during a meeting here on Monday with Apta district president Haji Abdul Rahim in the chair.

Noted among participants were provincial vice president of the association Shafiq Ahmad and district general secretary Mohammad Ibrahim.

The participants appreciated the provincial government for promoting thousands of teachers of different categories to the posts of secondary schoolteachers (SST) and said as many posts of certified teachers has fallen vacant in middle, high and higher secondary schools af ter the promotions.

They also praised Lakki Marwat DEO Nazir Khan and DDEO Mohammad Sheeraz for working for the adjustment of newly-promoted SSTs in government schools and said the posting of secondary schoolteachers would help address the shortage of teaching staff in government schools.

On the occasion, the Apta district president said promotion of a large number of teachers was a historic step of the government and that it would be long remembered.

He said the authorities should promote primary schoolteachers as certified teachers under the new departmental promotion policy.

Rahim criticised BISE Bannu officials for delaying verification of secondary and higher secondary school certificates of teachers appointed five months ago.

`Until now, the primary schoolteachers recruited recently haven`t gotten salary due to the delay in verification of educational certificates by the BISE Bannu,` he said.

The Apta district president warned the association would agitate if the verification was delayed any longer.

SHIFTING OF OFFICES OPPOSED: Residents of Tajazai on Monday opposed the shifting of the government offices from the District Headquarters Complex, Tajazai to Lakki city and demanded withdrawal of orders for it.

The demand was made during a meeting chaired by former candidate for alocalprovincial assembly seatMohammad Ayub Khan and attended by local elders in Tajazai.

The participants said orders for the shifting of some government offices to Lakki city didn`t sit well with local population.

A participant said the DHQ Complex was built in Tajazai to bring or set up all government offices at one place to the benefit of the people.

He said the relocation of offices was unjustified and therefore, the government should withdraw orders for it to address unrest among local population.

Mohammad Ayun said the residents of Tajazai had provided land at nominal rates for DHQ Complex, so they won`t tolerate the relocation of government offices established there.

He said the shifting of offices would increase the people`s misery and therefore, orders for it should be withdrawn without delay.