When it comes to oppression being faced by various segments of the society, the teachers in the federal capital are no exception. That is why they are all set to observe the World Teachers’ Day as black day today (Wednesday) because of the government’s failure to implement the orders of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani about up-gradation of their pay scale.
It is no secret that multiple problems including regularisation, demands of raise in salaries, non-release of funds for higher education scholars, non-availability of transport for female teachers, delay in promotion on merit and dual standards of curriculum is creating frustration among the teachers’ fraternity. In this scenario, they will come on the streets to ‘celebrate’ the ‘World Teachers’ Day’, with a theme of ‘Teachers for Gender Equality’. In this connection, the teachers of both men and women colleges of the federal capital have planned demonstrations.
The day is observed annually on October 5 to highlight the essential role of teachers in providing quality education at all levels. It also commemorates the anniversary of the signing of UNESCO/ILO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers in 1966. It was launched by UNESCO at an International Conference on Education in Geneva in 1993. Various activities will be organised at educational institutions to appreciate services of teachers who groom the future generations and are instrumental in the nation-building process.
A number of events including a walk to signify the status of teachers and a seminar on ‘Teachers for Gender Equality’ will also be held under the banner of UNESCO in association with the FDE and schools, colleges and universities.
On a day, which is supposed to enhance the respect and dignity of teachers in the society as also ordained by religious and social values, over 13,000 teachers working under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and over 40,000 faculty members in universities are imparting knowledge within meagre available resources.
In a bid to press their demands, the teachers’ community of the federal capital has been protesting for the last one year but no one in the power corridors is paying attention towards their genuine issues. They are demanding implementation of the package announced by the prime minister on October 8 last year.
The best way to recognise the services of teachers is to resolve their problems so that they can deliver their services in a complete peace of mind. But the reality is quite different.
All the representative bodies of teachers have been demanding that new schools should be opened in the rural areas of Islamabad for provision of better education facilities to the people. Furthermore, it is a common complaint of the teachers working in private schools that most of them are getting wages less than even the minimum standard of Rs 7000 and they want the government to come to their rescue.
The FDE teachers also cite insufficient housing allowance, which makes the task of finding a reasonable accommodation an arduous affair. They are also critical of the recruitment process and want a simplified procedure.
Talking to Pakistan Today, an official of FDE admitted the importance of teachers in any society. “All the issues of teachers working under FDE including delay in release of salaries, regularisation of contractual employees and provision of transportation to female staff have been resolved. With the passage of time, the FDE would also solve the few ones, which are still pending,” the official promised.
Federal Government Colleges Teachers Association (FGCTA) Press Secretary Muhammad Tahir said the then federal minister for education Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali had assured them of resolving their problems at various meetings. However, he said, no progress had been made after the devolution of Education Ministry.
“In many cases, it takes 25 years for teachers to be promoted from one grade to the next one, causing a sense of deprivation. Therefore, all the teachers, who have been serving for many years, must be promoted according to the time scale promotion formula,” he added.
Tahir also mentioned shortage of teachers in educational institutions and said a proper procedure would ensure avoiding financial complications of the issue. Teachers from the twin cities are on the streets for the last couple of weeks after the authorities failed to implement the package announced by Gilani. They are holding protests at and out of the campuses and in front of other prominent places like D-Chowk (Parade Avenue) and National Press Club (NPC).
Talking to this scribe, a female teacher said they had been forced to agitate, as they were given assurances for many a times but nothing happened during the whole year.
On Monday, when scores of teachers gathered at the NPC, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan promised to raise the issue Prime Minister Gilani.
Talking to teachers outside the NPC, Firdous said they were a role model for the society and no one would be allowed to humiliate them, adding that she would also talk to Capital Administration and Development (CAD) Secretary Junaid Iqbal. She said the elements, responsible for not implementing the prime minister’s directives, would be held accountable.
Firdous said a meeting of the leaders of teachers’ community would also be arranged with the prime minister in a few days time.
