Balochistan protests: Teachers continue hunger strike

QUETTA: Government teachers continued their hunger strike “unto death” for the second consecutive day on Wednesday in protest of no official notifications being issued regarding what they say are their acknowledged demands. The All Government Teachers Association (GTA) Balochistan had pitched a tent outside the Quetta Press Club on Adalath Road disrupting the flow of traffic. Teachers from Sibi, Loralai, Mastung, Kalat and other districts also observed the strike. There was significantly low teacher attendance at state-run schools in and around Quetta due to the strike. According to GTA Balochistan, their demands were accepted but the government has issued no notification in this regard yet. Their main demands include restructuring teachers’ time scale, increasing allowance, and moving junior teachers from grade 18 and grade 19.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th,  2011.