Wapda Cadet College Tarbela offers education for grade 8 to 12. PHOTO: FILE
HARIPUR:
Teachers and students of Wapda Cadet College Tarbela in Ghazi held a demonstration on Thursday, asking for a change of principals and better facilities.
Students boycotted their classes and marched on the roads inside the premises, chanting slogans against the administration. “We need an educationist principal. No dictator, no brigadier.”
The protesters also carried placards stating, “We want facilities for college staff in line with Wapda’s rules.”
Following the protest, chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Raghib Ali Shah ordered the closure of the college till the 17th of this month.
Inaugurated eight years ago, Wapda Cadet College Tarbela offers education for grade 8 to 12. Initially over 100 teachers and other support staff were hired on contract and on daily wages but their services were not regularised despite repeated requests.
Instead, the college administration sacked over a dozen daily wage and contractual employees, sparking unrest. The demonstration on Thursday started off with just the teaching and support staff but was later joined by students.
The protesters were not allowed to move outside the college building. The security staff blocked the gate and tried to convince the irate teachers and students to desist.
When the protesters were unmoved, Shah rushed to Tarbela dam to persuade them to disperse peacefully and offered to negotiate. Teachers’ representatives held a dialogue with the Wapda chairman and college administration where they demanded permanent jobs, medical facilities to teachers and students, a playground, free electricity and sacking of the college principal and vice principal. The chairman assured the crowd of meeting their demands, which he said were admissible until September 17. Until then, the college will remain closed.
The students also protested about the negotiations, but the situation was controlled after Shah met the students separately.
Attempts to contact Principal Brigadier Retired Muhammad Zarin or Vice Principal Muhammad Nazir for comments were unsuccessful.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 6th, 2013.
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Shame to all the staff of college who used the students for their own politics.It is very unethical behavior. The faculty and staff has no ethical and legal right to use students for their purpose. They should teach them to live a responsible life, not aggravate them.