Continuing protest: FG schools remain closed for a third day

ISLAMABAD: The continuous strike of teachers in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) has left academic activities across 400 federal government schools paralysed. Three days on, the teachers are still protesting against the delay in implementation of their up-gradation package, announced by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani in November last year.

Federal Government Teachers’ Association President Azher Mehmood Awan on Saturday said that the situation is still in a “status quo” and that he has not been contacted by anyone from the concerned authorities.

He said that if their “genuine demands” are not met soon, they will not only stage a sit-in in front of schools but will be forced to take to the streets. He condemned the government for being apathetic to the needs of the teachers, as well students.

Ali Anwar a class six student, standing outside his school in Sector G-9/4, said, “Our studies are being badly affected by the strike and our exams are also nearing.”

He added, “We don’t understand what the authorities want. They should at least negotiate with the teachers and try and get them to call of the strike.”

Awan said the teachers have been deprived of their due right to promotion for the past two decades.

“The teachers of [federal government schools] contribute just as much as teachers of model schools, so why are we deprived of incentives enjoyed by teachers of model schools,” he said.

The Director General of Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), Shaheen Khan, said, “Despite my clear assurances that their concerns will be resolved, boycotting classes was an inappropriate move by the teachers.”

She said that it is the moral responsibility of the teachers to be concerned about students’ career, who will be the ultimate sufferers in the tussle. She added the secretary education is presently out of town and once he returns “the issue will be promptly resolved”.

PM Gillani on November 8 had said that all educational institutions of Islamabad Capital Territory would be administered as Islamabad Model Schools/Colleges. He 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. These colleges 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 to replace the Four-Tier Promotion Formula.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2011.