Teachers threaten protest again if demands not met

FDE Joint Action Committee says strike postponed in best interest of students

ISLAMABAD:

The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) Joint Action Committee has clarified that the protest has been postponed after the assurance by the concerned authorities to amend section 166 of the Islamabad Local Government Ordinance 2021 under which educational institutions have been put under the administrative control of the Islamabad Municipal Corporation (MCI).

“The protest has been postponed because of the educational loss of the students instead of pressure or an explanatory statement of a political figure. The boycott of classes is over for now. If the assurances given by the government are not implemented, the employees reserve the right to protest,” said a statement issued by the FDE Joint Action Committee spokesperson after a meeting chaired by Fazal Maula.

At the meeting, FDE Joint Action Committee Chairman Fazal Maula took all participants of the meeting into confidence about the talks so far held with the officials concerned.

The spokesperson said that the boycott of classes lasted for 10 days and the teaching and the non-teaching staff also participated in a massive protest in front of the Parliament, who were demanding to reverse section 166 of the ordinance.

The meeting was told that during the talks with the representatives of the FDE Joint Action Committee in the ministry of education, it had been assured that after amendment in the specific clause, the same would be sent to the prime minister for reversing the ordinance keeping in view the concerns of the employees.

The spokesperson said that FDE Joint Action Committee announce to call off the strike after the assurances.

Fazal Maula said that during the one month, teachers and the non-teaching staff would continue their protest wearing black armbands while protest banners will be hung at the entrance of all educational institutions.

He said that parents will be made aware of the disadvantages of section 166 of the ordinance during the one month.

The FDE Joint Action Committee unanimously decided that it would also hold talks to bring back 33 model colleges under the administrative control of the FDE.

It reiterated to hold talks with the ministry of education and vowed not to disappoint the employees.

The FDE Joint Action Committee also thanked Senate and National Assembly Standing Committees for taking up the issue in their meetings.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2021.