All teachers working in Federal Government Colleges boycotted classes on Monday and held a protest demonstration to press the government to resolve the long-pending issue of their up-gradation.
Around 150 teachers assembled in front of the press club, where they raised slogans for their up-gradation in line with the announcement made by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani last year.
Holding placards and banners in their hands, the protesting teachers urged the Prime Minister to live up to his word regarding their promotion under the Time Scale Promotion Formula (TSPF).
“We are really fed-up worrying about the future of Pakistan…as no one is ready to implement the teachers’ package, which was announced by none other than the Prime Minister himself,” said, Federal Government Teacher’s Association (FGTA) President Professor Zahid Ali Shah
The college teachers’ promotion was part of a package, which was announced by Gilani on October 8, 2010.
Speaking on the occasion, Shah said for the last 20 years and more, dozens of Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) teachers of BPS-16 were struggling for their promotions, but no one was ready to give them their due promotion.
The protesting teachers reiterated their stance that they would continue to boycott classes until their demands were met.
The protesters also raised slogans against FDE Director General Atif Kiani and against the Capital Administrative and Development Division (CAAD) Joint Secretary Professor Tahir Rafiq whom the protesting teachers considered main hurdles in the implementation of the PM’s announced package.
Protesting teachers also stopped Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan from boarding her vehicle parked in front of the Press Club. She was about to leave the Press Club after attending a function, however when she came from the press club dozens of protesting teachers halted her way and raised slogans for their up-gradation. Later, while addressing the protesters, Awan assured them that she would take up the matter with the prime minister.
