PESHAWAR: Primary schoolteachers continued their sit-in in the provincial capital for the second day to press the government to upgrade them as a large number of schools remained closed across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday.

The last PTI government led by chief minister Mahmood Khan had approved the upgradation of teachers during the last days of its tenure, but the incumbent government reversed the decision in August this year.

The protest has been called by All Primary Teachers Association (APTA) with the teachers continuing their sit-in on the Service Road next to the Jinnah Park on GT Road.

APTA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Azizullah told Dawn that their sit-in would continue till the acceptance of their demand regarding upgradation. He said over 26,000 primary schools across the province would remain closed till their demand was fulfilled.

Mr Aziz said they had held a meeting with the education department officials to resolve the impasse. He said the provincial government was currently working on a package to end the teachers’ strike, which would be placed before them soon. However, he said the education department had asked them to end their protests in exchange for acceptance of their other demands.

Mr Aziz, however, said they had conveyed to the authorities that they would not end their protest till the issuance of a notification regarding teachers’ upgradation, which was their main demand.

He said initially they had planned to stage a sit-in outside the provincial assembly on Khyber Road; however, the plan was abandoned after talks with the administration.

In Lower Dir, all the primary schools remained closed for second consecutive day on Wednesday.

Talking to reporters in Timergara, APTA district president Qazi Habibullah, chairman Akhunzada Ubaidullah and general secretary Sirajuddin said the schools would remain closed till the government notified teachers’ upgradation, ended ‘illegitimate’ tax deduction from salaries, appointed class-wise teachers in primary schools, decreased bag burden on students, regularised contract teachers and declared the contract teachers eligible for general provident fund benefits.

Meanwhile, Lower Dir district education officer Inayatullah Khan in a voice message circulated on various social media platforms asked teachers to end their strike and continue to educate children of poor families. He directed his subordinate officials to report the closed schools for further disciplinary action.

Primary schools in upper parts of the Hazara division also remained closed as teachers protested for their upgradation.

“Schools in Mansehra were open as usual, but in rest of the districts in upper parts of the division were closed as teachers are on strike,” Attique Mughal, APTA regional president, told reporters.

He said teachers in Torghar, Kolai-Palas, Upper Kohistan and Lower Kohistan districts had gone on strike and were participating in the protest taking place in Peshawar.

Government schools were also closed in Shangla district, while more than 80 per cent of schools were also closed in Charsadda district. Similarly, in Lakki Marwat schools also remained partially closed.

Meanwhile, Awami National Party has announced its support to primary schoolteachers, and urged the government to fulfill its commitment about upgradation of teachers at the earliest. In a statement issued in Peshawar, ANP provincial vice-president Salahuddin Momand, who is adviser to his party’s teachers wing – Malgari Ustazan – said it was rightful demand of the teachers, which needed to be accepted.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2024