Education authorities : Teachers plan protest rallies in two districts

PTU expressed reservations over recommendations of Sir Michael Barber.

LAHORE:

The Punjab Teachers’ Union (PTU) on Sunday announced protests in Nankana Sahib and Dera Ghazi Khan against the proposed formation of the district education authorities.

The protest in Nankana Sahib will be held on February 18 and the one in Dera Ghazi Khan on February 22.

At a meeting on Sunday, the PTU decided it would continue to protest against the government. It decided to hold a protest sit-in in front of the Chief Minister’s House in April and a protest rally in front of the parliament in Islamabad at the end of May.

Earlier in January, a three-member committee was formed to schedule the protest events. The decision to hold more rallies came after PTU’s central executive committee in its meeting on January 22 decided not to boycott the grade 5 and grade 8 examinations.

PTU general secretary Rana Liaquat said the government was using delaying tactics.

“They have given the impression that the DEAs formulation has been postponed,” he said. “PTU wants the government announce a complete roll-back of DEAs plans.”

“We believe the system is being created to pressure teachers and allow political interference in the education sector,” he added.

The PTU has now added several other things to its list of demands. These include implementation of the draft presented by Justice (r) Khalilur Rahman on Article 25-A (provision of free and compulsory education) under the Punjab Education Commission in 2012.

The PTU has also expressed reservations about the education initiatives headed by Sir Michael Barber.

Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan told The Express Tribune that the government was working on a “consolidated action plan” in line with its education policy. He said the plan was expected to be announced in March.

The deadlock between the PTU and the Schools Education Department has entered its sixth month. Previously, the union had held a series of protest demonstrations in 13 districts in August. Union members and department officials had met for negotiations in October, 2013.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2014.