Minister promises to address teachers’ concerns at oath-taking ceremony

Islamabad : The newly-elected body of the Federal Government College Teachers Association (FGCTA) took their oath-taking in a ceremony held at Islamabad Model College for Girls (Postgraduate), G-10/4, with Wajiha Qamar, Minister of State at the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, gracing the event as the chief guest.

The ceremony, which was attended by principals and staff from various colleges, was a significant occasion for the teaching community. The Minister was warmly received by the college Principal, Sadia Ibrar, alongside the FGCTA central body and staff, and was presented with a bouquet of flowers as a gesture of welcome.

In her speech, Wajiha Qamar expressed her commitment to resolving the issues faced by teachers, stating, “I am always present to resolve the issues of teachers.” She assured the audience that she is just a phone call away, even encouraging them to reach out to her via text message should they encounter any problems.

The ceremony also marked the official oath-taking of the newly elected body of FGCTA. The minister administered the oath to the newly elected office-bearers, including Muhammad Akram Khan Khosa as President, Ayesha Kiran as Senior Vice President, Bushra Kauser as Vice President, Tahir Bhatti as General Secretary, Danish Yaseen as Joint Secretary, Zubairuddin as Finance Secretary, and Sobia Masood as Press Secretary.

In his speech, Akram Khan Khosa, the newly elected President of FGCTA, presented several key demands on behalf of the teaching community. He emphasized the need for the restoration of the nomenclature of Federal Government (FG) colleges and called for the appointment of a separate director to handle the affairs of FG colleges, as opposed to the current system where one director oversees both the Model Colleges and FG Colleges. Khosa also advocated for a revision of the four-tier service structure to allow for more rapid promotions of teachers. He further highlighted the growing demand for more FG colleges, particularly in sectors such as Tarnol, Nilore, and Bhara Kahu, as a response to the increasing population and need for educational institutions.

Responding to these demands, Wajiha Qamar acknowledged the importance of the teaching community and assured the attendees that the Ministry is committed to addressing their concerns. “Teachers are respectable, and we should all move as a team to resolve the issues of the teaching community,” she stated, emphasising her availability and support for the teachers.