Unpaid for 3 months, teacher sets herself on fire

Her family blames school teachers, while teachers blame the school.

KARACHI: A primary school teacher, and mother of seven, set herself on fire on Wednesday inside a government school because she had not been paid for the last three months.

Forty-year-old SH arrived with kerosene oil at the government girls school that is located in a goth. At around 11:40 am, she set herself on fire. She was 60 per cent burnt and doctors at the Civil hospital burns unit are trying to save her.

According to her family, she had worked at the school for eight years. “She was already disturbed because of the transfer issue and not being paid,” said her younger sister Aisha (not her real name).

“This is my school,” said SH before she drenched her body with kerosene oil after teachers allegedly shut her out of the school. Talat, a fellow teacher, said that some teachers, including Farhat, used to tease and taunt SH. They used to tell her that she should not come to their school because she has been transferred,” said Talat, adding that, “No one saw her transfer letter being issued so it is not confirmed.”

SH’s colleague Farhat defended herself by saying that she had never pressured her, but had generally asked her about the issue. “She was my friend and neighbour. She reacted because of the salary and no one shut her out of the building. She used to visit the school and never faced problems.”

SH’s brother-in-law Qasim said that everyone, including the school, relatives and neighbours were aware that SH was being ostracised by her colleagues for the past year. “She approached school officials, political parties and elders of the area but no one helped her,” he said.

Qasim told The Express Tribune that SH’s husband had been ill for the last six months and she was struggling to run her household. “She had not received a transfer letter and even though we pushed her to leave and join another school, she said she would only do it if she received an official transfer letter,” claimed Qasim.

Sindh Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq has ordered an inquiry into the case. He told The Express Tribune that all government educational institutes fall under the city government and the ministry is not connected to this case. “However, I have still ordered an inquiry and if any officials are found guilty, they will be punished,” assured the minister.

Police officials were going to register a case against SH for a suicide attempt. “By law, the case should be registered against the teacher,” said Gadap Town SP Rao Anwar. However, we will investigate and question school officials to find out whether a transfer letter was issued or not, he added.

(Names and places have been changed or withheld to respect privacy)

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2011.