Long-standing woes: Teachers boycott classes over delays in promotions in Kurram Agency

Warn to close schools until demands are met

PARACHINAR: Government schoolteachers boycotted classes in Kurram Agency over undue delays in their promotions.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, a large number of representatives from various teachers unions said they had decided not to attend classes because the government had failed to address their demands.

“Through this boycott, we want the government to fulfil their demands,” a representative of a teachers union said. “However, nothing has been done so far.”

He added, “We have now decided to close down schools across Kurram Agency and other parts of Fata.”

A large number of students were inconvenienced by the boycott. “We are having our exams,” a student said. “However, there are no faculty members available to invigilate the examinations.”

On Monday, schools in Mohmand Agency remained open even though teachers from Fata had announced they will shut down educational institutes. Union leaders had asked them to boycott teaching from December 1 to December 7. After December 7, they were told to shut down the schools. However, Fata has a strict attendance monitoring system and most teachers are unwilling to risk their jobs.

A large number of teachers from Fata have been protesting over their demands for promotion and salary increases for a long time.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th,  2015.