GILGIT: The government of Gilgit-Baltistan has decided to keep pupils in school for longer lessons to overcome the gaps in their learning caused by the unavailability of teachers, the region’s chief secretary said.
Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, who blamed the shortage on the insufficient recruitment of instructors on vacant teaching positions in the past, said his administration has extended the school day by one hour as part of its catch-up plans.
The decision, Wani said, was “based on the best practices around the world and by keeping in view the losses incurred by the students”.
These extended hours would be utilised to inculcate learning related to science and technology among students, he added.
The regional government has also recruited more than 700 teachers both through in-house testing and Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), the chief secretary said.
Wani was of the view that this move has been a stepping stone in improving the quality of pedagogy in Gilgit-Baltistan as it has “led to a lower teacher-student ratio in schools which is considered a necessity for effective learning”.
