The Sindh government has barred teachers from forming unions in a bid to improve their performance..
A meeting under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali was held on Wednesday to review the progress of the provincial education department. The meeting was attended by Senior Minister for Finance Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, Principal Secretary to CM Alamuddin Bullo, Additional Chief Secretary (Dev) Aijaz Ali Khan, Secretary Education Fazal Pechuho and other officials.
Briefing the chief minister, Secretary Education Fazal Pechuho said that he had developed a biometric system in which the attendance of teaching staff would be closely monitored. “Over 90 per cent data of teachers has been uploaded in the system and it has started working as well,” he said.
He said the appointment, transfers and promotions of teachers were also being verified with the help of the biometric system . “In various districts, some promotions have been found illegal and necessary action has been taken,” he said, adding that this system had also helped in tracing out ghost employees, late comers, habitual absentees and bogus appointments.
The chief secretary said that he had developed close working relationship between the education department, accountant general Sindh and finance department. “Through this coordination, the matter of bogus appointments has come to an end because the AG does not accept such orders until they are sent to them by the secretary education.”
The chief secretary said that various bogus appointments were traced out in Sukkur and Matiari while illegal promotions were found in Qambar-Shadadkot. On this, the chief minister said: “Not only the recoveries be made from the people involved in illegal appointments and promotions but also cases must be registered against them.”
The chief minister expressed his displeasure on the press statements of teachers associations and said they should take their classes instead of doing politics. “Teachers are not supposed to form unions and act like political parties,” he said and directed the chief secretary and secretary education to suggest him ways and means to declare education sector as essential service.
The chief minister also directed the secretary education to follow the case in the Supreme Court where some teachers have challenged separation of teaching and management cadre.
