More primary teachers detained

KARACHI:

The police once again detained dozens of primary teachers who had gathered to protest at the Karachi Press Club.

All Sindh Primary Teachers Association (ASPTA) Karachi Division organised a peaceful demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club to express their grievances regarding unpaid allowances and the lack of permanent teacher contracts.

However, the police arrested all the protesting teachers and prevented them from occupying the area outside the club. Former ASPTA president Sikandar Jatoi and Abdul Jabbar held a press conference at a local hotel, stating that the police began detaining teachers when they arrived for the peaceful protest.

They highlighted the previous incident where police and Rangers had mistreated and detained around one hundred teachers during a peaceful protest while delivering their demands to the Chief Minister. As a result of these events, 14,000 primary teachers across Sindh are now protesting in all the tehsils of the province.

The teachers rejected the teaching license policy introduced by the Education Minister, which restricts eligibility for licensure to those with an Associate Degree. They argued that this policy undermines their previous certifications and hampers their career advancement.

They demanded official communication, the implementation of a biometric system at the district level, permanent contracts for all teachers, and the provision of grade 17 and a service structure for senior teachers. They asserted that the protest would persist if their demands are not met.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2023.