- Teachers demand formation of judicial commission to probe irregularities
- Aitchison College management ‘harasses’ teachers to vacate their houses, a teacher alleges
The recently sacked Aitchison College teachers have demanded that a judicial commission be constituted to probe into the ‘illegal’ termination of teachers.
Recently, more than 70 teachers of the city’s Aitchison College were fired without a show-cause notice. The teachers also staged a protest against their termination.
ALL FOR A POLITICAL MOTIVE?: Talking to Pakistan Today, a senior faculty member of the college said, “We all are educationists and don’t have any political motives or backgrounds nor do we have a union or association amongst the faculty of Aitchison College. Many of us assumed senior positions at the college and some of us are even recipients of Best Teacher of Year award. I cannot comprehend the motive behind such an illegal act.”
He said that the college’s principal had made this move on a very crucial point in time when the democratic transition from one government to another was taking place.
He said, “We are given to understand that this large scale termination has been done in order to bring and accommodate their close relations and politically affiliated people to occupy the important places in the college. It is very alarming to note that just before the entry test for the new admission all senior teachers have been removed so that the college authorities can facilitate their close relatives and influential people in violation of the college admission policy.”
He added, “It is now the responsibility of the new government to look into this matter. We are educationists and we hope for justice. This is not done!”
IN CONTEMPT OF COURT:
According to sources, the principal had acted against the court orders. Among those who have been terminated are some of the teachers who have been recently reinstated in service by the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary.
Sources said that the principal had terminated the teachers despite of the fact that the matter was still pending before the Supreme Court of Pakistan in contempt application against the principal for not implementing the order of the Supreme Court.
MANAGEMENT HARASSES TEACHERS:
A senior teacher of the college told Pakistan Today that the administration was pressurizing them to vacate their houses while they had also been barred from entering the college premises.
“This is hooliganism. The college management has barred our entry in the college. What have we done to deserve this kind of harsh behavior from the administration?” he said.
He claimed that the college management was ‘harassing’ the teachers and forcing them to vacate the residences. “It is creating a lot of embarrassment for our families and innocent children,” he said.
‘WAS I NOT GOOD ENOUGH?’:
A teacher Muhammad Asif said that he had been given the responsibility to work as acting headmaster for last 3 years at Senior School along with Muhammad Yousaf Kamal, a senior English teacher, and Manzar Ali Khan, Head of Physics Department and coordinator A-Level.
“Why would the administration sack me after giving me such a responsibility? I have performed well during my career and this sudden termination has raised a number of questions on the credibility of the administration. This should be inquired,” said Asif.
A senior faculty member said that this was a huge test case and a challenge for the newly elected government to look into this serious issue where merit was being flouted. “It is strongly recommended that a judicial commission be constituted in order to look into these irregularities. We urge the high authorities for form a committee in order to monitor the transparency/merit of the new admissions as well,” he said.