Federal school teachers seek fair promotion rules

Islamabad : Experienced Secondary School Teachers (SSTs) serving under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) have called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address their grievances by amending what they describe as "unjust" promotion rules introduced during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) government.

The teachers stated that a committee, formed by the Ministry of Federal Education and the FDE during the PTI tenure, devised new rules for the postings and promotions of teaching staff, vice principals, and principals from BS-16 to BS-20.

These rules were notified through an SRO published in the Gazette of Pakistan on March 15, 2019.

The SSTs, many of whom were appointed in the early 1990s and upgraded to BS-16 later in their careers, expressed frustration over being denied promotions despite over 30 years of experience and academic qualifications, including Master's degrees obtained during their service.

They argued that the 2019 rules unfairly mandated an M.Ed. qualification for further promotions, side lining senior teachers nearing retirement.

While we are being overlooked, less experienced teachers are being promoted, they said, emphasising that the rules should apply only to teachers recruited after March 15, 2019, the date of the SRO’s issuance.

The aggrieved teachers urged the Prime Minister to instruct the Ministry of Federal Education to review and rectify the promotion policy to ensure fairness and recognition of their decades-long service.