Contractual teachers stage protest

Demand permanent status in Grade 14 pay scale

KARACHI:

Contractual teachers from various districts of Sindh, including Karachi, faced a baton charge and water cannon as they demanded the regularisation of their services in line with Sindh government regulations. Police detained several protesters to prevent them from reaching the Chief Minister's House. Both male and female teachers participated in large numbers.

Teachers from the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) and Basic Education Community Schools (BECS) held a demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club, calling for permanent status for their positions.

The NCHD and BECS teachers, hired on contract by the federal government, were transferred to the Sindh government in 2021. However, despite many assurances, the provincial government has yet to regularise their appointment.

The educators, hailing from various districts of Sindh, including the seven districts of Karachi, attempted to march from the Press Club to the Chief Minister's House. Police thwarted their efforts with multiple barricades. When the teachers breached the barricades, police deployed water cannons and resorted to baton charges. Four teachers were detained but released after two hours. A heavy police contingent, including a prison van, was present at the scene.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, the protesters said that regularization has been pending for 26 years. Although their salaries were increased from Rs25,000 to Rs32,000 a year and a half ago, they have yet to receive the increment.

They demanded regularization, salary increments, a 14th pay scale like primary teachers, an increase in the retirement age to 60 years, and a 100% salary increase in the upcoming budget. The teachers vowed to continue protesting until their demands were met, with women teachers’ also participating and raising slogans against the education department.

South District SSP Sajid Sadozai told the media that all detained teachers had been released and denied allegations of torture. He said teachers were prevented from entering the red zone and that discussions between teacher leaders and the Secretary of Education would resolve the issue.

The Sindh Education Department held talks with the protesting teachers at the Karachi Press Club, leading to the end of the protest. A delegation of NCHD and BECS teachers met with the Secretary of School Education Sindh, Zahid Ali Abbasi. Secretary Abbasi assured the delegation of his cooperation according to the law, stating that NCHD and BECS teachers would need to submit applications under legal procedures, and the department would act according to the rules and regulations. It should be noted that these protesting teachers were originally hired by the federal government.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2024.