Chandigarh, Aug 24 - In a bid to improve the student-teacher ratio and to fill the vacant posts in Punjab schools, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has ordered officials to immediately start a recruitment drive and employ 10,810 teachers.

'Punjab government will employ 10,810 new teachers in secondary schools in the state within the next three months. In addition all posts lying vacant because of a delay in promotion would also be filled in the next three months,' an official spokesperson of the state government said here Monday.

He added: 'Work has already started to fill the vacant posts of principals in Punjab schools. All primary, middle and secondary schools would be provided with sufficient facilities and infrastructure like good buildings, educated staff, labs, and libraries.'

These decisions were taken by Badal during the review meeting of the education department (schools) Saturday night.

In order to ensure the safety of students, Badal also directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to provide a list of all unsafe school buildings so that the government could take necessary action.