Teachers’ Day: ‘Teaching has a lesser profile as a job’

According to the USAID there are 1.35 million school teachers in Pakistan.

MULTAN:

“We need better salaries, we need to be shown respect...what’s the point of celebrating Salam Teachers’ Day every year when our problems remain unresolved,” says Allah Ditta, a teacher at a government primary school in Multan.

Allah Ditta, who’s been in the profession since 1985, says he is drawing only Rs25,000 per month. “What’s worse is when we our sent to non-teaching assignments like anti-polio drives and election duties...many students drop out from schools during the time we’re away,” he says.

Rahat Ambreen, a private school teacher in Multan, tells the APP that the teachers’ morale can be boosted by improving their wages.

“Salaam Teachers’ Day is not enough to recognise their services,” she says.

Farheen Fatima Khan, who topped the intermediate exams this year, says teachers need to be financially rewarded.

Tauseef Latif, an assistant professor of English at a public college in Rawat, says the social sector and education are neglected in Pakistan.

“The neglect has made teaching a low-profile job,” he adds.

Latif says teachers in the country do not get the privileges enjoyed by teachers in other countries.

World Teachers’ Day is celebrated worldwide on October 5. In Pakistan, October 5 is called Salaam Teachers Day.

According to United States Agency for International Development (USAID), there are 1.35 million school teachers in Pakistan.

As many as 275 teacher training institutions provide pre-service training (certificates, diplomas and degrees). In addition, there are 300 teacher training resource centres in districts, according to the USAID.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2013.