ISLAMABAD, Oct 29: Although teachers of all Islamabad model colleges have been promoted through timescale formula – which is a new process introduced by the government for promotion – their salaries remain the same.

To bring salaries on par with the scale, teachers need to be given something which in the government educational jargon is called ‘premature increments.’

According to a faculty member of a college, promotion seems to be a “demotion” in terms of financial benefits.

“This shows that teachers’ community has been ignored once again as their right to premature increments on the basis of promotion to the next grade had been denied to them.

The prime minister’s dream of promoting the teaching faculty under Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) remains unfulfilled,” he said.

Federal Government College Teachers Association (FGCTA) spokesman Tahir Mahmood said: “Teachers are victims of government red tape.”

“This is because the officers who agreed on timescale promotion of teachers cannot see them enjoying benefits of the scale.”

Previously teachers were promoted on a seniority basis only when a seat was available in a higher tier but according to the timescale formula, teachers are automatically promoted after they complete the required time period. For grade 17 it is five years and beyond seven years.

The Federal Directorate of Education spokesman, Waqar Ashraf, told Dawn: “We will look into it and fight the case of the teachers at all forums.”