No leaves for educators during protests

Authorities enforce strict rules to monitor staff, prevent demos against privatisation

RAWALPINDI:

The Education Department has imposed a ban on casual leaves and outstation leaves for all teachers to prevent them and other staff from protesting against the privatisation of government schools.

Attendance of all staff, including teachers, has been made mandatory on working days from 8am to 5pm. A warning stating that action will be taken under the PEDA Act which may result in termination of employment for any violations has been issued.

The Education Department has issued a formal circular to the chief executive officers of all 42 District Education Authorities and district and tehsil education officers, instructing them to ensure that all officers conduct daily inspections of schools in their areas. Reports on absent teachers are expected to be submitted.

According to school rules, all government schools will remain open from 7am to 5pm. If any schools are found to be closed during these hours, it will be classed as an illegal action. Monitoring of teachers who are active on social media has already begun, and strict action will be taken against those involved in prohibited social activities.

Transfers rejected

The Department of Education has made a significant decision regarding teacher transfer applications under the Transfer Policy. Out of more than 50,000 applications, 29,000 were rejected.

Approximately 48,000 teachers applied under the Open Merit Policy, with only 17,000 approvals, resulting in 26,000 applications being rejected in this category alone. An additional 3,000 applications, including those for mutual exchange, were also denied.

Notably, schools undergoing privatisation were exempted from transfers. Transfer orders have already been issued for the approved applications.

Teachers suspended

Earlier this week, the education department took action against the teachers for protesting the privatisation of government schools.

Raising voices against the privatisation of government schools has been declared an official offence for teachers. Therefore, District Education Authority, Rawalpindi, Chief Executive Officer, Yaseen Baloch has suspended the presidents and secretaries of the Punjab Teachers Union and Educators Association and issued show-cause notices. Furthermore, they have been threatened with termination of employment under the PEDA Act or being declared surplus and sent to Lahore if they do not immediately call off their protests.

Several leaders of the teachers' unions have been issued show-cause notices.

However, all teachers' organisations have rejected these notices and announced they will continue their protest.