Govt's new timetable deepens teachers' internal conflict

Subject specialists should teach all classes, says SS cadre teachers

PESHAWAR:

The Directorate of Education's newly-issued period timetable has worsened the ongoing conflict between SST (subject specialist teachers), and SS (senior secondary) tutors, rather than resolving their differences over their responsibilities.

Thousands of students, who couldn't secure admissions in colleges despite high merit, are currently studying in higher secondary schools across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Unfortunately, these students are facing a shortage of expert SS teachers.

In some cases, English and Chemistry teachers are even teaching Quranic studies, which is seen as mere "time passing".

Similarly, other subjects are being taught by teachers who have no expertise in them.

The tension between SS and SST teachers stems from the former's belief that if the Department of Education allows SSTs to teach not only grades 9 and 10, but also higher secondary classes (first and second year), the education quality of both matric and higher secondary students will improve.

On the other hand, SST teachers refuse to take on this responsibility.