Health emergency: Teachers concerned over polio duties
The PTU said polio vaccination duties for teachers was against the understanding the union had with the government.
“Teachers are already being penalised for not achieving the education targets set for classrooms,” PTU general secretary said. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
The Punjab Teachers Union (PTU) on Wednesday expressed concern over polio vaccination duties assigned to teachers by the government.
In a statement, the PTU said polio vaccination duties for teachers was against the understanding the union had with the government.
Talking to The Express Tribune, PTU General Secretary Rana Liaquat Ali Khan said more than 800 teachers had been assigned polio duties in Lahore.
Khan said government officials had previously told the PTU that teachers would not be assigned vaccination duties.
“However, on Monday, teachers were assigned duties on the polio drive,” Khan said. The PTU office-bearer said the union had asked the government to assign duties to clerical staff from government departments, including the Education Department.
“Putting teachers out of classes will adversely affect education targets set by the government,” he said.
“Teachers are already being penalised for not achieving the education targets set for classrooms,” he said.
In a meeting on Tuesday between the PTU and the city district government, the union raised their concerns before Lahore Education EDO Pervez Malik. PTU representatives said Malik had stated that teachers had been assigned polio duties in the light of the current emergency involving the disease. They said teachers had also complained about the lack of training prior to assigning these duties.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2014.
The Punjab Teachers Union (PTU) on Wednesday expressed concern over polio vaccination duties assigned to teachers by the government.
In a statement, the PTU said polio vaccination duties for teachers was against the understanding the union had with the government.
Talking to The Express Tribune, PTU General Secretary Rana Liaquat Ali Khan said more than 800 teachers had been assigned polio duties in Lahore.
Khan said government officials had previously told the PTU that teachers would not be assigned vaccination duties.
“However, on Monday, teachers were assigned duties on the polio drive,” Khan said. The PTU office-bearer said the union had asked the government to assign duties to clerical staff from government departments, including the Education Department.
“Putting teachers out of classes will adversely affect education targets set by the government,” he said.
“Teachers are already being penalised for not achieving the education targets set for classrooms,” he said.
In a meeting on Tuesday between the PTU and the city district government, the union raised their concerns before Lahore Education EDO Pervez Malik. PTU representatives said Malik had stated that teachers had been assigned polio duties in the light of the current emergency involving the disease. They said teachers had also complained about the lack of training prior to assigning these duties.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2014.