Federal schools: Teachers to go on strike - BZU PAGES: Find Presentations, Reports, Student's Assignments and Daily Discussion; Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan

**Salman Mushtaq** · #1 15-09-2011, 10:16 PM

The Federal government and the model college's teachers associations on Wednesday joined hands to press the government for acceptance of their demands and decided to go on strike again. A meeting of the office-bearers of the two associations showed concern about 'indifferent' attitude of the administration concerned towards up-gradation of college teachers as promised by Prime Minister Yuosuf Raza Gilani in the recent past. The members unanimously decided that the college teachers would hold demonstration besides boycotting the classes.
Federal Government Teachers Association (FGTA) has been fighting for up-gradation of over 1,400 teachers who had been serving in Grade 16 for the last 22 years and more. They were also struggling for up-gradation of nearly 850 teachers whose promotions were upheld after the government linked work experience and education qualification to progress.
The protests would start at small scale from September 19 till September 22 when faculty members would wear black armband.
Then from September 23 till the 27 they would boycott classes in the last two periods and from September 28 to October 1 they would skip first two periods.
On October 3 the protest would likely to take the shape of a demonstration in front of National Press Club and full day boycott of classes would follow. And from October 4 to 5 a full day they would boycott classes.
The teaching staff would take to the streets again on October 6 when they would gather in front of the parliament and boycott classes until their demands were met.
After framing the protest schedule, Professor Khalida Makhdoom said that teachers had been struggling and raising voice for up-gradation ever since former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz gave assurances to the teachers on October 5, 2006 (World Teachers Day).
The present Prime Minister Yuosuf Raza Gilani also assured to up-grade teachers on November 8, 2010 in a gathering specially called for this purpose in Islamabad.
Teachers of universities were instantly up-graded within few months, he said adding that they were also given assurance that they would also be up-graded.
Professor Abdur Raqeeb, a reperesentative of model colleges' wing, said that a directive of the prime minister was also issued in this regard. Since the authorities were ignoring all requests, teachers had decided to launch a protest against what he believed was discriminatory treatment.
Professor Zahid Ali Shah, President Joint Action Forum, had already informed the administration about the level of anxiety among the teaching community.
And Professor Tahir Mahmood said, "We sharpen the human and national destiny. We produce doctors, engineers, economic professional, hard working workforce of all kinds and even the generations of technocrats, statesmen and politicians. Doctors have struggled and ultimately got what they were asking for. We pledge to continue our struggle until our demands are met," he added urging all faculties to mobilize community.

Feel The Difference