Government agrees to educators’ demand

Govt sets plan in motion to regularise all 14,000 AEOs by June 30

RAWALPINDI:

Negotiations on the 21-point charter of demands between the provincial government and the Punjab
Educators Association has reached a successful conclusion.

The development is expected to bring significant changes in the educational landscape starting from the next academic year.

One of the major outcomes is the advancement of the academic calendar with the new academic
year commencing on March 1 instead of April 1.

This adjustment aims to streamline the educational processes, ensuring that all annual exams are concluded by February 28.

Integral to these negotiations was the elevation of middle-class teachers to head primary schools, a decision aimed at enhancing leadership within the educational framework. Additionally, plans were set in motion to regularise all 14,000 Assistant Education Officers (AEOs)by June 30, a move geared towards stabilizing administrative roles within the education sector.

Another significant development is the elimination of non-teaching duties for teachers, allowing them to focus solely on their core responsibilities in the classroom. Furthermore, there’s a notable emphasis on the promotion and appointment of Secondary School Teachers (SST) from the 17th and 18th scales as heads of high schools, aligning with efforts to strengthen school leadership.

In a bid to facilitate teaching effectiveness, 150,000 tablets are set to be distributed among teachers this year, leveraging technology to enhance instructional practices and resource access. The negotiations spanned four hours, led by Muhammad Safdar, the central president of the Punjab Educators Association, and Sikandar Hayat, the Provincial Education Minister.

The outcome was met with positive responses from association leaders and provincial officials, emphasising the success of the talks in addressing key concerns and reaching connsensus on critical issues.

Among the agreed-upon measures are service protections, no arrears, and the extension of seniority benefits from the date of joining.