Teachers of Islamabad protest against their economic exploitation. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD: As world teachers day was celebrated across the globe on Thursday, Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) held a protest in Islamabad.
University teachers in Pakistan are in miserable conditions and facing a number of problems, said FAPUASA-Islamabad Chapter President Dr Shehzad Ashraf Chaudhry.
Teachers are the most low-paid professionals and neglected community in Pakistan, he said. The perks and privileges of teachers were meagre as compared with officials of the same grades in other departments, he said.
In the developed world, teachers get due respect and are among the best paid professionals, that is why these countries are making progress at a great pace, Chaudhry said.
However, the hierarchy of the universities make sure that the government desists from enhancing perks and privileges of the teachers, while the Higher Education Commission adds more miseries to their sufferings.
Today higher education is on decline due the current leadership of the country, Chaudhry opined. He said the idea of participatory democracy was not adopted by the HEC or universities.
The constitution of Pakistan guarantees freedom of speech but even in the highest seats of learning, an environment is being promoted in which students and teachers are discouraged to raise their voice freely on academic and social issue, he said.
In institutions like International Islamic University Islamabad, teachers have been denied of their legal right to participate in decision making forums, the representative of the faculty said.
Empowerment
The theme of world teachers’ day this year is “Teaching in Freedom, Empowering Teachers,” FAPUASA said.
On this occasion, the association demands that teachers in all public sector universities should be empowered by given their due share in decision making forums of universities and HEC.
The salaries and perks and privileges should be increased by 100% to bring it at par with bureaucracy and other professions. The educational budget should be enhanced to at least 5% of GDP and tax rebate be restored at 75%. Instead of wasting public money on celebrations, HEC should invest on infrastructure of universities.
IIUI marks the day
While FAPUASA criticised the IIUI management, the university held a ceremony to mark the teachers day at its new campus.
Renowned scholar Dr Ijaz Shafi Gilani, IIUI Rector Dr Masoom Yasinzai, President Dr Ahmed Yousif Al-Draiweesh, varsity officials, faculty and students were present at the event.
“There is a need to revive the strong relationship of a teacher and student,” Gilani said. He said that Islamic system of teaching is distinctive as it focuses on humanity, while rest focus on economics.
He maintained that universities had a crucial role in establishing balanced societies.
Dr Yasinzai said teachers were the real guides to the path of progress. “There is a need of cooperation between the government, society and universities to develop a link that leads to the road success,” he said.
Dr Al-Draiweesh said the day was dedicated to the builders of the society. Teaching is among the most vital occupation.
He vowed that IIUI, through its teachers would keep providing quality education integrated with teachings of Islam.
AIOU get-together
A teachers’ get together was held on Thursday at the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) to mark the World Teachers Day.
Addressing the ceremony, Vice Chancellor Dr Shahid Siddiqui reiterated the university’s resolve to fight illiteracy by implementing its ongoing plan providing free education to drop-out girls and upgrading education standard at the higher-education level.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2017.
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