Upgraded package: Teachers seeth over unfulfilled promises

Warn of complete boycott of classes until an upgradation package announced by the PM last year is implemented.

ISLAMABAD: Public schools teachers across Islamabad warned of complete boycott of classes until the teacher’s package announced by the prime minister last year in November is implemented.

The announcement was made at a joint meeting of teachers’ general body and executive council in Islamabad on Tuesday.

“We have unanimously decided to observe complete boycott of classes from tomorrow till our demands are met,” said Azher Muhmood, President Federal Government Teachers Association.

The teachers said they had been given date after date for the implementation of the teachers’ package promised by the prime minister on Teacher’s Day on November 8. Several meetings were held with high-ups of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and education ministry, but all exercises remained futile.

“Low-paid teachers cannot be given consolation anymore,” he said and added, “We’re worried that the matter will be in doldrums once the federal education ministry is devolved.”

Warning of a prolonged protest, he said no teacher would attend any class or perform exam duty from Thursday till their demands are met.

Shaheen Khan, director general FDE, was optimistic and said there was no question about a boycott. She promised that the case was moving towards a positive direction as it had been submitted to the prime minister.

Earlier on November 8, the prime minister had announced an upgraded package for teachers and transformation of all federal government schools and colleges into Islamabad Model institutes “to end disparity and provide equal opportunities” to all students of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

Some of the key demands of the teachers which had been forwarded to the federal ministry included uniformity in syllabus, distribution of financial resources and administrative and academic structure of all public sector institutions.

The prime minister had said that all educational institutions of ICT would be administered as Islamabad Model Schools/Colleges and had directed the Ministry of Education to consider the establishment of a Federation Public School in Islamabad as well as a Model University to cater to the affiliation needs of ICT Graduate and Postgraduate Colleges, which are presently affiliated with the University of Punjab.

The prime minister had also announced the upgradation of posts of teachers working under FDE and the introduction of Time-Scale Promotion Formula which would replace the previously Four-Tier Promotion Formula.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2011.