SHANGLA: Young teachers of government schools in Shangla on Friday observed a strike to demand job regularisation.

The protest call was given by the provincial cabinet of the young teachers’ association.

The association’s Shangla president Ashfaq Ahmed said they would continue strike till their demand was met.

He said 64,200 teachers, who were recruited between 2018 and 2020 across the province, had been awaiting job regularisation. However, he regretted that the education department was sitting on the files of teachers, demanding job regularisation.

Mian Badshah, a teacher from Maira area, said their future was uncertain in the absence of a proper service structure. He said several women teachers also took part in the protest.

The teachers said they planned a sit-in outside the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar if their jobs were not regularised till Feb 20.

Separately, residents of Tokka Maira area of Bisham have demanded of the elementary and secondary education department to ensure presence of teachers in the area’s girls primary school.

Talking to mediapersons the other day, they said the school had 183 students enrolled, but out of the two teachers, one had stopped coming to school for last one year, while the other performed her duty once a week.

Resident Gul Sherwan said they had approached the local MPA for ensuring teachers’ attendance in the school, but to no avail.

Saleeha Bibi, a grade-2 student, said their only teacher had stopped coming to school since it reopened after winter vacations. She demanded of the local MPA to order teachers to regularly attend the school.

Assistant commissioner, Bisham, Aniq Anwar told Dawn that he had submitted a report to the secretary education department and the district education officer, female, for ensuring the teachers’ presence in the school.

OPEN KUTCHERI: The residents of Alpuri tehsil at an online open kutcheri held on Friday complained about bad roads, water shortage and garbage dumps on roads and streets.

Alpuri assistant commissioner, who had called the forum, assured the residents of addressing their issues on priority.

He directed the departments’ heads to resolve the public issues immediately.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2022