Second phase of teacher rationalization from next week
Teacher associations reject policy, threaten to stage sit-in
Representational Image (PHOTO: FILE)
RAWALPINDI:
The Punjab education ministry is expected to restart its rationalization plan for teachers employed in government schools from November 15. The plan, however, has been rejected by teachers who have threatened to stage a sit-in of their own.
The first phase of the rationalization process began on October 14 and is expected to continue until November 10. The plan aims to achieve a ratio of 40 students to every teacher at the primary level. This will mean that only one teacher will be appointed for nursery and grade-I.
If a primary school has 80 students, they could have as many as three teachers.
In middle and high schools, a single teacher will oversee classes of 55 and 60 students respectively.
K-P to hire 12,000 more teachers
Further, if any class in a middle school has as many as 135 students, they will be considered as single-section schools. A single-section middle school will have eight staffers including a headteacher, a physical education teacher (PET), an assistant teacher, two subject specialist teachers with one each for Science, English and a general teacher. They will be overseen by a headmaster or a headmistress.
In single-section high school, there will be only four teachers in addition to the headmaster or headmistress.
The teachers will be subject specialists and one each will be appointed to teach Computers, Arts, and English and Science. The science teacher, though, will have to bear the burden of teaching four subjects including mathematics, physics, biology and or chemistry.
Teacher unions announce sit-in on Sept 19
This plan, however, has been rejected by the teachers. Leaders of different teacher organizations including Allah Baksh, Rana Liaquat, and Shafiq Bhalwalia have completely rejected the rationalization policy.
They demanded to implement the internationally acceptable teacher-student ratio of 1:20, apart from hiring separate teachers for each subject.
They warned that teachers across the province will stage a sit-in outside the Punjab assembly if their demands were not met.
Schools reopen
Public and private schools in the garrison city opened normally on Monday after they were shut down on Friday owing to concerns about the Azadi march by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam -Fazl (JUI-F).
The district administration said that they had turned down a recommendation of keeping schools closed across the district for a longer period.
Similarly, the business and other activity in the city also returned to normal on Monday with proceedings in the district courts held normally.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 5th, 2019.
The Punjab education ministry is expected to restart its rationalization plan for teachers employed in government schools from November 15. The plan, however, has been rejected by teachers who have threatened to stage a sit-in of their own.
The first phase of the rationalization process began on October 14 and is expected to continue until November 10. The plan aims to achieve a ratio of 40 students to every teacher at the primary level. This will mean that only one teacher will be appointed for nursery and grade-I.
If a primary school has 80 students, they could have as many as three teachers.
In middle and high schools, a single teacher will oversee classes of 55 and 60 students respectively.
K-P to hire 12,000 more teachers
Further, if any class in a middle school has as many as 135 students, they will be considered as single-section schools. A single-section middle school will have eight staffers including a headteacher, a physical education teacher (PET), an assistant teacher, two subject specialist teachers with one each for Science, English and a general teacher. They will be overseen by a headmaster or a headmistress.
In single-section high school, there will be only four teachers in addition to the headmaster or headmistress.
The teachers will be subject specialists and one each will be appointed to teach Computers, Arts, and English and Science. The science teacher, though, will have to bear the burden of teaching four subjects including mathematics, physics, biology and or chemistry.
Teacher unions announce sit-in on Sept 19
This plan, however, has been rejected by the teachers. Leaders of different teacher organizations including Allah Baksh, Rana Liaquat, and Shafiq Bhalwalia have completely rejected the rationalization policy.
They demanded to implement the internationally acceptable teacher-student ratio of 1:20, apart from hiring separate teachers for each subject.
They warned that teachers across the province will stage a sit-in outside the Punjab assembly if their demands were not met.
Schools reopen
Public and private schools in the garrison city opened normally on Monday after they were shut down on Friday owing to concerns about the Azadi march by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam -Fazl (JUI-F).
The district administration said that they had turned down a recommendation of keeping schools closed across the district for a longer period.
Similarly, the business and other activity in the city also returned to normal on Monday with proceedings in the district courts held normally.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 5th, 2019.