On the backburner: College teachers demand promotions, training

Competence, not the seniority, should be the criterion for appointing principals, they say.

RAWALPINDI: College teachers in Rawalpindi have asked the Punjab government to revise their service structure and ensure regular promotions for the faculty.

They said slow promotions and lack of incentives have demotivated the teachers and have affected their performance. They said the provincial government was not serious in resolving their problems.

They also said that due to slow promotions, 80 per cent teachers do not go beyond grade-18. “Most teachers retire in the same grade they are recruited on,” said Muhammad Shahid, an assistant professor who requested not to name his college.



“If a teacher is recruited in grade-17, he has to wait for 18 to 20 years to get promoted to the next grade,” said Muhammad Arif, a retired professor.

Teachers said that they are considered weaker officers in the government machinery and hence the government’s apathy towards their issues.

Shahid said incentives being given to college teachers are too small compared to what government officials in other departments get. “I get Rs7,000 as house rent but I cannot find a house to rent on the meager amount,” he said.

No training opportunities

Furthermore, there is no training facility for college teachers, which is the reason why many teachers still rely on outdated teaching methods.

“Passing a public service commission examination does not make you a teacher. Teaching is not everyone’s cup of tea,” said Mohiyuddin, an educationist.

He said due to lack of training, college teachers lack administrative and teaching qualities that directly affect theirs and students’ performance.

‘Make competence the criterion’

The rule for promotion to become head of a college is by number of days in job and not by performance and capabilities. Besides, a teacher becomes principal when he gets closer to retirement with no energy to contribute.

Senior faculty members are made college heads without assessing their administrative skills and aptitude.

“There is no criterion for appointing a principal except seniority. While the slot is purely an administrative one that needs special skills and energy,” said Arif.

Educationists are of the view that it is due to this reason quality of education at government colleges has always remained below the level.

Din said that the Punjab government had started a policy of directly recruiting principals but could not sustain it.

He said it is due to this reason that students of private colleges perform well as compared to government colleges because they have strict administration.

Also, many teachers refuse to become principals due to lack of incentives.

Suggesting a separate criterion, educationists say there should be a separate examination including written, oral and aptitude tests for selecting principals.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2015.