Lecturers protest HED policies

Minister says govt to address their all genuine concerns

LAHORE

A large number of college teachers took out a rally on Wednesday to protest against the Higher Education Department (HED) Punjab over, what they termed, its anti-teacher policies. 

The rally organised by the Punjab Professors & Lecturers Association (PPLA) started from Government MAO College and reached at Punjab Civil Secretariat where the participating teachers also staged a sit-in. The protesters carrying banners and placards chanted slogans against the HED outside the Civil Secretariat where the department is housed. The demo caused traffic mess on Lower Mall and adjacent roads for quite some time.

The teachers called off their protest only when the notification regarding formation of a committee over their demands/concerns was issued. Sources said Punjab Minister for Higher Education Syed Raza Ali Gilani played a key role in bringing the protesting teachers on table for talks.

He issued directions for the formation of the committee which will look into the matter and submit a report within two weeks for subsequent action by the government. The committee comprises HED Additional Secretary (establishment) Tanveer Jabbar, Director Administration DPI (Colleges) Prof Amanullah, HED Deputy Secretary (budget) Khalid Bashir and the PPLA president. Earlier on Tuesday night, a PPLA delegation headed by its President Prof Hafiz Khaliq Nadeem also held a meeting with Punjab Minister for Higher Education Syed Raza Ali Gilani and informed him about the issues faced by the college teachers. Talking to The News, Syed Raza Ali Gilani said the government would address all the genuine concerns of the teachers on a priority basis. He said the fact-finding committee would submit its report and the issue/s would be resolved after subsequent deliberations. The teachers have been demanding implementation of time-scale for promotion, filling of over 6,000 vacant posts and MPhil and PhD allowance for new selectees. They also demand the government stop recovery of increments from contract teachers whose services were regularised.