Wearing black arm-bands in protest against non-implementation of PM’s package, the teachers of federal government-run colleges did their routine work on Monday. The teachers, however, said they would be boycotting their classes from October 5 against non-implementation on a pledge made by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani regarding their promotions.
On Monday, all the teachers working in college affiliated with Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) wore black arm-bands to press the government for their promotion in line with PM’s orders. “We have been struggling for the promotion of over 1,500 teachers who have been serving in Grade-16 for the last 22 years and more,” said Professor Tahir Mahmood, an office-bearer of Federal Government and Model Colleges Association.
He said that in the next phase of their protest, which would start from September 23,2011 they would partially boycott the classes and from October 5, they would take to the streets until their demands were met.
Professor Tahir Mahmood said that on November 8,2010 while addressing at ceremony to mark the Salam Teacher Day, the PM had announced a promotion package for the college teachers under a time-scale formula. However, he said nothing had happened ever since. “Now, we have no other option but to boycott our classes, as authorities concerned have been ignoring our genuine demands. We have knocked all the doors for our right, but to no avail,” said Professor Shoukat Ali Awan a representative of college teachers.
He said that according to the PM’s package, the Grade-16 teachers having five year experience would be promoted to the next scale while those who had seven years’ experience in Grade-17 would be promoted to Grade-18.
He said that most of teachers of federal colleges have been waiting for their promotions from grades 16 to 17 for the last 10 to 15 years. The teachers alleged that high-ups of the Capital Administrative and Development Authority (CAAD) were using delaying tactics to hinder their promotions. The teachers were of the views that whenever their talks with the head of Federal Directorate of Education reached some crucial stage, the head was removed. They said so far four director generals had been removed from that post since the PM’s announcement.
Meanwhile, around 50 college teachers had assembled in F/6/2 girls colleges on Monday where they vowed for boycotting classes from October 5.
