Reinstatement appeal: Sacked teachers in FATA demand regularisation

PESHAWAR: The All Fata Information Technology (IT) Teachers Association on Wednesday claimed about 55 teachers across the tribal belt were laid off a week ago by the education department.

The association’s president, Ajmal Khan, told journalists at the Peshawar Press Club almost all those who were sacked were highly qualified and held a masters degree in computer science. He claimed the employees were working as IT teachers for the past 10 years on fixed salaries.

“The total number of IT teachers across Fata is 55 and four of them are women who are working in Kurram Agency,” he said.

Accompanying their representative, teachers also protested outside the press club and demanded the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) governor to reinstate their service.

Ajmal complained IT teachers have been regularised all over Pakistan, and Federally Administered Tribal Areas was the only region where employees were being fired despite vacancies and court orders. He said the decision will affect 4,000 students across the tribal areas.

Though the vacancies were sanctioned last year, the teachers were sacked last week and were told their services were no longer required. Ajmal said most of the teachers are no longer eligible for any other government service because they have surpassed the age limit.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2013.