PM’s package for teachers: Almost a year on, struggle for implementation continues
The teachers are back on the road; they launched a formal protest against the government for non-implementation of the up-gradation package on Monday.
The protest campaign launched as college teachers gathered at the F-7/2 Women College, sporting black ribbons on their arms. They expressed deep concerns over the indifference shown by their government to their problems. Their key demand is the implementation of the Prime Minister’s package, which includes the up-gradation of their scales and applying time-scale formula to their contracts.
Tahir Mehmmood, Secretary FGTA, said that they have framed the programme for a protest movement which would be carried out if the government did not accept their demands immediately. “We have had many meetings with the concerned authorities requesting them to implement the package, but all in vain. The bureaucracy is being stubborn in accepting our genuine demands,” he said.
According to him, teachers of all the federal government colleges have started wearing black ribbons on their arms to mark their protest. From September 22 to September 27, the teachers would boycott classes in the last two periods; and from September 28 to October 1, the teachers would begin protests in front of the National Press Club, boycotting full-day classes at schools. On October 4, the teachers would observe full day a boycott of the classes including all types of assignments. From October 5 on, the teachers would hold protest demonstrations in front of the Parliament House.
Khalida Makhdoom, vice president of the teachers’ association, said that teachers would observe October 5, the Salam Teacher Day, as a black day and would protest in front of the Parliament House.
According to the Time Scale Formula, the teachers would be promoted from BPs-17 to BPs-18 after five years of their service. For the promotion from BPS-18 to BPS-19, a teacher should have at least 12 years of service and at least seven of years experience.
She said that many teachers have not been promoted to the next grade for the last 15 years.
“I was promoted from BPs-18 to BPS-19 after 17 years, which is unjust,” said Shaukat Ali Awan, a lecturer of H-9 College.
Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) Director General Atif Mehmood Kayani said that the file for teachers’ package has been sent to the establishment division, FDE and Capital Administration and Development Division are actively pursuing the case.
He said the implementation on the Prime Minister’s package has been delayed due to lack of funds.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 22nd, 2011.
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