SARE-E-PUL - The Baghlan attorney general's office is investigating claims that over 100 so-called ghost teachers are registered in the Baghlan-e-Markazi district of the province, which in turn costs the department millions of Afs a year.

The attorney general's office has said that evidence received by the court indicates that millions of Afs are embezzled in salaries for these non-existent educators. according to the officials, the appeal court has launched an investigation into the case.

Reacting to the allegations, the acting head of Baghlan education department has called the accusations groundless, stating that no ghost teachers exist in the province.

According to some officials from the Baghlan education department, millions of Afs have been embezzled in the province under the name of ghost schools over the past few years. They say they informed the legal and judicial institutions in the province after receiving reports about ghost teachers.

"At least 113 ghost teachers including 49 ghost civil servants were reported during 2013," Abdul Jalil Dawlatzai, acting head of Baghlan Markazai education department said.

Initial assessments show that nearly four million Afs have been embezzled through ghost teachers and this should be tackled seriously, Baghlan appeal court said.

"I announce from the tribune of the attorney to probe the case after the alleged culprits are identified," attorney Din Mohammad Quraishi said.

Baghlan education department has rejected the allegations.

"The majority of teachers are formal teachers, and there are no ghost teachers at our schools, we are prepared to cooperate with those investigating the case," Abdul Qadir Rassouli, acting chief of Baghlan education department said.

The existence of ghost schools and ghost teachers has often sparked controversy in the country in the past, however the former minister of education rejected rumors that money received from international donors is going towards paying ghost teachers. (Tolonews)