Anti-rationalisation policy protest: Teachers vow to fight it back

ATTOCK:

A large number of teachers from various government schools of Attock district took out a protest rally on Wednesday to oppose the Punjab government’s proposed rationalisation policy.

The protesting teachers said that they would oppose the proposed ‘anti-teacher’ provincial government policy tooth-and-nail. According to them, the provincial government is using the term ‘rationalisation’ to justify mass layoffs.

The rally was led by Mutahida Asatiza Mahaz Attock District President Afzal Lahm and others leaders including Muhammad Hanif Khattak, Mohsin Abbas. The protesters shouted slogans against the provincial government and the district education authorities demanding the immediate withdrawal of the policy.

The teachers threatened to launch a province-wide protest if the proposed policy was not done away with. They also handed over a memo to Attock DCO Muhammad Iqbal, who assured them that their apprehensions would be addressed.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.