Teachers rally against ‘privatisation’

LAHORE

A large number of schoolteachers Tuesday took out a rally against the Punjab government for not upgrading teaching posts, privatisation of public schools and other issues including what they termed an unjust disciplinary action against them. 

United Teachers Council (UTC) Punjab, a group representing eight different teacher associations of the province, had given the call for the rally from Masjid-e-Shuhada to the CM Secretariat.

Dozens of female teachers participated in the rally in which the participants carrying placards and banners chanted slogans in favour of their demands. The rally turned into a sit-in at Charing Cross (Faisal Chowk) near the CM Secretariat. The rally caused traffic mess on The Mall and adjacent roads for some time.

The UTC leaders including its convener Hafiz Ghulam Mohiuddin, Allah Bakhsh Qaiser, Allah Rakha Gujjar, Hafiz Abdul Nasir and others addressed the rally participants and criticised the government for what they termed its indifferent attitude towards schoolteachers and school education. They said the cabinet committee had recommended BS-12 to PST teachers whereas the schoolteachers had been demanding BS-14 for PST, BS-16 for EST and BS-17 for SST. They said the government should avoid privatising public schools through Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) and Center of Excellence. They were critical of what they termed unjustified inquiries against schoolteachers.

The schoolteachers warned that if the government did not accept their genuine demands they would continue their protest campaign and along with their families they will celebrate Eidul Fitr together outside the CM Secretariat.