No school today, like it or not

PESHAWAR:

Primary teachers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have locked their schools and sent students home in protest over the lack of job upgrades.The teachers have also begun a sit-in protest in Peshawar to demand their rights.

Following a call from the All-Primary Teachers Association (APTA), all government primary schools in the province were locked, with an announcement that the schools would not reopen until the teachers' promotions are approved. Teachers even brought bedding with them to continue the protest as long as necessary.

On Tuesday, students arriving at schools were sent home shortly after. The association planned a peaceful sit-in at Jinnah Park, but the local administration did not grant permission and locked all gates. As a result, the protesting teachers held their sit-in outside the park. Teachers from across the province continued to arrive at the sit-in, creating a fair-like atmosphere in front of Jinnah Park.

Association President Azizullah stated that educational activities in over 26,000 primary schools in the province have been suspended, and more than 100,000 primary teachers have gathered in Peshawar to protest.

He said that the previous PTI government had approved the teachers' promotions in its last cabinet meeting on January 17, 2023. However, the current government has rejected this decision.

The teachers are also demanding class-based teacher appointments, a reduction in the burden of books on children, and that newly regularised teachers receive GP funds under the Regularization Act of 2022. Other demands include reinstating the "forgo option" in promotions per PTA rules from 1989, revoking the decision to privatise primary schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and approving SPS TT posts in merged districts.