Teachers demand early payment of hiring allowance

The Federal Government College Teachers Association (FGCTA) has demanded the early release of funds under the rental ceiling.

The college teachers of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) also expressed serious concerns over the inordinate delay in the release of their rental ceiling/hiring allowance.

They said that the authorities concerned have not released the hiring sum for the last one year and they have to pay rent to landlords from their own pockets.

The teachers' body alleged that the authorities concerned have abruptly reduced the funds of educational institutions under the head of rental ceiling) in the fiscal year 2022-23 without any cogent reason.

"While our teachers are facing threats of eviction from house owners due to non-payment of rent, all other employees of ministries, divisions and departments are getting their regular rental ceiling on time. An injustice is being meted out to teachers,” FGCTA President Dr Rahima Rehman said.

FGCTA Vice-President Prof Farhan Azam said, "The relevant department has failed to release pending rental payments to the teachers. The house owners demand the rent from teachers on daily basis.

Teachers are compelled to take loans to cover their rent obligation which is the responsibility of the government. The association has been struggling for the release of funds for the rental ceiling for a long time but the authorities are not paying heed to the issue.”.

FGCTA Vice-President Prof Tasnim Akhter Mir said: "Teachers are suffering with no money to pay the rent. Inadequate funds allocation by the Finance Division has led to a delay in rental payments.

The authorities must understand that the financial problems faced by the teachers on account of non-payment of rental ceiling for over one year is an absolute infringement upon their fundamental rights being government servants.”

FGCTA Press and Information Secretary Dr Jabir Hussain said: "The teachers have been patiently and silently bearing the brunt of overdue payment of rental ceiling. They are paying their rent out of their own pockets, leaving them with insufficient money to meet other household expenses.”

A lecturer at a local college on the condition of anonymity said, "Public money is misused on the fake repair of furniture, vehicles and different false purchases every year but there is always no budget to pay the rental ceiling of the teachers.

“The teachers are not being paid according to their ceiling and covered area because the rent assessment committee of the Federal Directorate of Education has put in place its own inspection procedure of approving or disapproving the rental ceiling,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2022.