Oath-taking ceremony: Teachers pledge to work with sincerity, commitment

Present resolution to shun colleagues who remain absent from duty.

MUZAFFARABAD:

More than 60 teachers took oath in Azad Kashmir on Thursday, pledging to work sincerely to impart the best possible education to children.

At a ceremony held in Bhimber, some 250 kilometres from here, which was attended by 500 teachers, Minister for Education Mian Abdul Waheed said the government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is spending more than 50 per cent of its budget on the education department. “Since they educate children, teachers are responsible for assuring quality and play a vital role in moulding a child’s future.”

The teachers presented a resolution to the education minister, stating they would not support teachers who do not take their duties seriously and remain absent from work.

“Teachers contribute towards nation-building,” said Azad Jammu and Kashmir School Teachers Organisation (AJKSTO) Central President Nazir Hussain Shah, while addressing participants. “It is a day to celebrate teachers who are dedicated to their duties.”

The government and teachers should work together to ensure that systems are aligned to provide students with good quality education, he added.

There are 44,263 teachers in AJK, of which 68 per cent are teaching in government schools and 32 per cent in private educational institutions. More than 90 per cent private and government teachers are members of AJKSTO.

Despite maintaining a high literacy rate and average student-teacher ratios, there are just two teachers in most government schools in AJK has for schools, who supervise six fully functional classes.

The oath-taking ceremony was also attended by Minister of Housing and Physical Planning Chaudhry Pervaiz Ashraf and Finance Minister Chaudhry Ali Shan Sooni.

The ceremony was organised by AJKSTO and Alif Ailaan, a nongovernmental organisation working for the promotion of education in the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2013.