LAHORE: A large number of schoolteachers blocking the main road outside the Punjab Civil Secretariat strongly protested against the School Education Department for “ignoring” the issues faced by the teachers, including the condition of Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) for regularisation of their services.
The demonstration which continued for quite some time caused severe traffic mess on Lower Mall, The Mall and other adjacent roads and localities. The demo was held on the call of Muttahida Mahaz Asataza Punjab (MMAP).
The MMAP leaders warned that if the government did not address schoolteachers’ genuine concerns, the MMAP and Educators Regularisation Movement would announce plan of action for boycotting Punjab Examination Commission (PEC) exams on January 31.
Dozens of female schoolteachers also participated in the protest demonstration and expressed their anger against the Schools Department for ignoring the plight of the teaching community.
Carrying placards and banners, the demonstrators also chanted slogans and demanded the government abolish the PPSC condition for regularisation of contract schoolteachers. They said the teachers were recruited on contract basis purely on merit according to the government’s contract policy. They added linking the regularisation of their services with PPSC was injustice.
Addressing the demonstrators, MMAP Chairman Hafiz Abdul Nasir and others criticised the linking of regularisation with PPSC and termed it unacceptable. They also expressed concerns over the plan of handing over schools to the local government. They also criticised the government for displacing schoolteachers in the name of rationalisation.