Mass demonstration: Teachers protest against rationalisation policy in Swat

One teacher expected to teach 60 students instead of the original 40 student ratio

MINGORA:

Teachers of the Muttahida Mahaz Asateza Pakistan (MMAP) protested on Thursday against the rationalisation policy introduced in government schools.

Teachers closed down all government schools in Swat district, gathered at Government High School Mullah Baba and marched towards Swat Press Club.

Under the new rationalisation policy devised by the provincial government, one teacher is expected to teach 60 students instead of the original 40 student ratio.

“The policy in which one teacher teaches sixty students is entirely illogical,” said Zakaria Bacha, president of the forum in Swat. He added, “It is likely to create problems for teachers and produce impediments in the learning process. This is an anti-education, anti-student and anti-teacher policy which will not be tolerated at any cost”. According to Bacha, the rationalisation scheme has resulted in countless problems for teaching staff at government schools. Under the new policy, teachers have been transferred to places far from their hometowns.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2014.