PESHAWAR: The strike of teachers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa entered its fourth day on Friday, bringing educational activities to a halt in thousands of primary schools. The teachers have been protesting for upgradation and other incentives, which, they say, require implementation after approval by the former provincial cabinet.
In the provincial metropolis, the protesting teachers continued their protest sit-in outside the Jinnah Park, vowing to continue their strike until the acceptance of all their demands.
The strike has caused closure of over 26,000 public sector primary schools in the province, disrupting the studies of millions of students enrolled there.
Instead of looking into their demands and working out some viable solution, the provincial government is adamant to browbeat the protesting teachers. The government had directed the district education officers across the province to suspend the protesting teachers. On Thursday, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur expressed his willingness to invite the primary teachers’ representatives to the Chief Minister’s House and reach a negotiated solution to the matter. But the meeting could not take place till the filing of this story.
Instead, the suspension orders for 298 teachers in district Karak only were issued on Friday on the pretext of absenteeism and participation in the strike. A provincial government document, prepared under Article 25-A, outlined that teachers who continue protesting and fail to return to work will face further disciplinary action, including charge sheets and lists of allegations.
Adviser on Finance Muzammil Aslam warned the protesting teachers of salary deductions for the days they remain absent from duty and on unauthorized leave. He also warned the teachers of long-term impacts including reductions in pensions and other benefits.
Meanwhile, KP Education Minister Faisal Amin Tarakai called for an end to the strike, stating that while the government was open to negotiations, closing schools was not an appropriate approach.
The teachers, however, remain firm in their resolve to continue their protest and strike in the face of all the threats and actions against them. All Primary Teachers Association (APTA) President Azizullah Khan condemned the suspension orders, calling them "unjustified".
He said that the upgradation of primary school teachers had been approved by the previous cabinet but the current government was reluctant to implement it.
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