Even though, incidents of violations against the fundamental rights of the common man have increased significantly in the country, but in Sindh all limits of inhumane behaviour have been crossed as more than 1,300 families of teachers are suffering since June 2012, while the senior education officials have shown no real interest in releasing salaries anytime soon.
As a result of this gross violation of fundamental employee rights, the families of unpaid teachers have been left at the mercy of senior education officials. On the other hand, the teachers, in a commendable display of character and morals, were continuously performing their duties despite being faced by a serious financial crunch that every middle class person was currently going through, Pakistan Today has learnt.
In the recent past, former chief minister Qaim Ali Shah, and former senior minister Pir Mazharul Haq had fought over the issue of teachers appointments that resulted in the removal of Pir Mazhar-backed education director to ensure recruitment of more than 1,300 Sindhi Language Teachers (SLTs) in the metropolis on merit-basis.
The former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led Sindh government had announced to recruit more than 1,300 SLTs in BPS-9, 14 and 15 with a condition that the candidate must have studied Sindhi as a compulsory subject throughout his/her course of education.
Later, the written test for the candidates was held at Safia Khanum Memorial School near Gurumandir for females and at Government Boys and Girls School Moosmiyat for boys in March 2012. Following the written tests, interviews were conducted in April 2012, however, the process was completely halted over the difference of appointment procedure between Qaim and former education minister Pir Mazhar.
The matter got out of hand after former MNA Faryal Talpur had jumped into fray and got appointed Dr Faalullah Pechuho as secretary education, who had major issues with Pir Mazhar. With all this, the worst sufferers were those appointed on the vacant posts and who were performing their duties without being paid even a single penny since June 2012, the sources added.
Ironic to mention here, secretary education Dr Pechuho had also forwarded a letter to the Sindh Accountant General (AG), requesting them not to release salaries of the SLTs until the secretary’s office verified the candidates.
Sources said that the entire episode had become a matter of satiating his ego for the secretary education who refused to sign the list forwarded by the AG for the release of salaries. Meanwhile, the teachers’ have been continuously visiting the Sindh Secretariat to get their salaries released.
Furthermore, sources said that all the district and assistant district officers had time and again requested that the salaries of these 1,300 teachers appointed on vacant posts should be released henceforth. However, the senior official seemed least concerned with the financial problems of the teachers and their families and had conveniently turned a blind eye towards the issue.
A teacher, requesting anonymity, informed that he joined his duties in May 2012 and he was still praying to Allah Almighty so that the teachers’ salaries would be released. “It seems the issue of salaries has become a matter of ego between for the Secretary Education and the AG office. Resultantly, the teachers and their families are the only ones suffering,” he added.
Speaking to Pakistan Today Secretary Education Shafiq Mahser said, “We don’t have the budget to release the salaries as yet. I don’t see resolution of this matter in the near future as the appointments were over exceeded. The issue can only be resolved politically.”
