Federal govt teachers stage sit-in to press their demands

ISLAMABAD – Extending their protest from the schools premises to roads, hundreds of teachers affiliated with Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) on Monday staged a sit-in at the D Chowk near the Parliament House, demanding regularisation and revision of their service structure.
Carrying placards in their hands, more than 3,000 teachers marched from the Press Club to the culmination point as they expressed their anger against the government for not fulfilling their demands. They warned the government that if their demands were not accepted, more than 200,000 students along with their parents would join them on the streets.
The teachers of the federal capital have been boycotting the classes for the last five days, as they are pressing their case against for implementation of the package announced by the premier on October 8 regarding enhanced salaries and other benefits.
The Ministry of Finance had issued a notification on Saturday, with some amendments in the promised package, but the teachers rejected it, saying the government should realise the pledges made by the prime minister in letter and spirit.
A uniform nomenclature of all institutions, service structure for all teachers, administrative structure of all the institutions under the FDE, syllabi in institutions of all level, fees and funds and distribution of resources.
Addressing to the protesters, President Federal Government Teachers Association (FGTA) Azhar Awan said, “The students are waiting for our signal.” Farida Yasmin, female teachers’ representative, said it seemed the government was not concerned with the future of more than 100,000 students studying in the federal government schools.
She said, “The principals and heads of the FG educational institutions are being paid only Rs30 to 50 monthly allowances as compared with the heads in the provinces who are receiving Rs1000 to 1200, which is a sheer injustice.” Other speakers also accused the government of not brining uniformity in education system, saying delaying tactics were being employed in the implementation process.