Impending agitation: Contractual IT teachers threaten to go on strike

Demand regularisation of services, release of blocked salaries.

MIRPUR:

The contractual teachers of Information Technology (IT) working in state-run institutions of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have threatened to go on strike if their demands are not fulfilled. These demands include regularisation of services and release of salaries which have been blocked for the last year.

Despite the decision of government of Pakistan to regularise all contractual employees working in government or autonomous institutions, the IT teachers have been denied the right, said the AJK IT Teachers Action Committee spokesperson while talking to media here on Wednesday. “The deadline of the strike will be announced after consultation with other colleagues,” he added.

Last year, the teachers had staged a sit-in to press the government for acceptance of their demands and the AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed had assured to look into the matter. But no practical steps have been taken yet.

This reflects the apathy of the AJK government, while putting at stake the future of at least 526 contractual teachers working in the public-sector schools, said the spokesperson.

Over 25,000 IT students studying in the government schools are registered with the AJK Board. He said that the contractual teachers were performing their duties for the last one year.

Moreover, he declared that the teachers would boycott duties and move to street agitation for an indefinite period if the government fails to meet their demands on priority basis.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2012.