Teachers to shut down primary education

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa All-Primary Teachers Association (APTA) has announced that starting Wednesday (today), all 22,000 boys and girls primary schools across the province will remain closed until further notice. The move is part of the teachers' protest to press for their demands.

The teachers plan to hold a sit-in at Jinnah Park, with thousands from across the province expected to participate.

The Education Department has declared the school closures as a challenge to the government's authority, and has decided to take action against the teachers involved. On the other hand, APTA Provincial President Azizullah stated that the K-P minister for education had invited them for negotiations. He asserted that if the minister was serious, he should come to the sit-in today and issue an official notification for teachers' upgradation; only then will the protest end.

In response to a question, Azizullah mentioned that due to the anticipated crackdown on their officials, all their phones are off, and they are keeping a low profile. However, they will gather at Jinnah Park for the sit-in.

Azizullah also shared that they had given the government ample time, but inaction has left them with no choice. "Schools will only reopen once the government issues an official upgradation notification for teachers, as there will be no compromise on this demand. Teachers are united; they have made sacrifices in the past and are prepared to face any difficulty to secure their rights."

By closing down schools across the province today, the teachers have made good on their earlier threat. In October, APTA officially announced that starting from November 5, they would close down 26,000 boys and girls' schools across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa until their demands are met. Their intention to hold a sit-in protest at Jinnah Park was also announced at the time.

The meeting of APTA's provincial officials was held at their provincial secretariat, chaired by its president Azizullah Khan.

Azizullah Khan stated that the sit-in would mark a historic event, as it is being held to demand the notification of upgradation, and regularisation of 13,500 teachers, the restoration of forced promotions, and the revival of the "Fargo Option".

The protest is also aimed at stopping the privatisation of primary schools, ensuring class-wise teacher appointments at every primary school, and creating senior primary school teacher posts with position codes in merged districts. Additionally, they demand that teachers regularised under the 2022 Act be included in the General Provident (GP) Fund.

Primary schoolteachers will come out in full force to claim their rights and vow to hold a powerful sit-in in Peshawar. Female teachers will also participate actively in this protest.

The sit-in will begin at Jinnah Park, Peshawar, on November 5 at exactly 1pm, and will continue indefinitely, regardless of the outcome. Starting from November 5, 2024, thousands of primary schools will be completely closed.

However, APTA remained open to positive negotiations at any time, as they are not keen on protesting, and have always believed in resolving matters through dialogue.

Last month, Schoolteachers from across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa also held protests to push for the demands listed above, threatening to bring the education system of the province to its knees by closing thousands of schools.

The demands included the promotion of senior teachers and the abolition of the Contributory Pension Fund.

Primary teachers held a protest in front of the Peshawar Press Club on October 8, similar to demonstrations across the province, with a large number of female teachers actively participating. The protest was led by Azizullah Khan, and other officials.

The demonstrators held placards and banners displaying their demands.