Not enough: Teachers deem salary raise insufficient

Say pay should be increased by at least 30%

PESHAWAR: Primary schools teachers across the province rejected the 10% increase in their salaries as outlined by the 2015-16 budget and demanded the figure be increased to 30%.

Uniting under the banner of the All Primary Teachers’ Association, they took to the streets on Wednesday and protested in front of press clubs in their respective districts.

The main protest was held in front of Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday and was led by APTA Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa President Malik Khalid Khan. The protesters shouted slogans against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government and said the ruling party failed to live up to promises made to teachers on several occasions.

Malik Khalid said Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had promised the teachers’ association that the government would raise their salaries to international standards. He said the 10% increase was an insult to the teaching community.

“The PTI government is claiming to bring a revolution in the education sector, yet it is slighting teachers and depriving them for their genuine rights.” He urged authorities to fulfil the demands of educationists if they are serious about bringing a positive change in the sector.

The association president demanded a one-step promotion for teachers like other government employees. Malik Khalid also rejected the raise in the salaries of government employees, saying the rate of increase would only leave them disheartened.

Primary teachers in Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera, Swabi, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Swat, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Torghar, Buner, Bannu and other districts also protested on Wednesday and demanded a 30% salary increase.

APTA Peshawar President Azizullah Khan warned if the government failed to increase their salary, they would protest across the province from September 1, 2015, close to the beginning of the academic year.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2015.