Lower-cadre staff has been protesting outside the FDE building to be granted an education allowance and pay scale upgradation, among other demands. PHOTO: FILE
The third consecutive day of protest by non-teaching staff of Federal Directorate of Education schools and colleges has greatly hindered academic activities in these schools.
Lower-cadre staff has been protesting outside the FDE building to be granted an education allowance and pay scale upgradation, among other demands.
“There are exams underway and it is difficult to manage everything without help from office boys, sweepers and other lower staff,” said a teacher at Federal Government Margalla College for Women F-6/4.
Guardians and parents are finding it difficult to help students reach colleges in time as all the schoolbus operators are also on strike.
“I have to come from Bhara Kahu early in the morning with my two daughters because the government is not accepting the demands of these poor employees,” said Ashfaq Ahmed while leaving Margalla college.
Many students have failed to show up for school in the absence of buses. The number of students was very low at different colleges, while issues of cleanliness and document dispatching were also coming up.
“For the last three days, there has not been any mopping or sweeping, and no post or dispatches could be sent out because the clerical staff is not present at colleges or the FDE,” said Islamabad Model College for Boys Principal Yasir Ali.
At some colleges, including FG Postgraduate Commerce College for Boys H-8/4 and Federal Government Postgraduate College H-8/2 Islamabad, guards refused to open the main gates and left students and teachers locked out.
Federal Government College Teaching Association President Tahir Mehmood told The Express Tribune that the protest has brought the education system of Islamabad to a halt. “Today, just six students were present in my class,” he said. “How will the system work when the lower cadres are away,” he remarked curtly.
Non-teaching staff blocked Kashmir Highway near the FDE office for almost three hours and traffic snarls were seen on IJP road and other alternative routes. The members of the union met the CAD secretary at noon and insisted on being shown an official notification. CAD Secretary RIffat Shaheen Qazi told them that a summary regarding time-scale promotions has been forwarded to the PM and the decision was now in his hands. The protesters have vowed to continue the protest over the weekend.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2013.
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