Teachers Strike on Teachers Day
Dr Imtiaz Ahmad
Malakand: On ‘World Teachers Day, which is observed worldwide on October 5, I recall an important occurrence that occurred in 2006, when on this day, former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz granted a scale upgrade to university teachers and established the moniker “Salam Teachers Day.”
Teachers are regarded as the architects of society, acting as agents of change and moral direction in both local communities and nations. While “Salam Teachers Day” is appropriate for educators in developed countries, teachers in Pakistan are often respected primarily within the confines of their classrooms when they are educating or advancing the children of powerful individuals.
Unfortunately, when it comes to advocating for their own rights, many people delegate responsibility to others and take little action.
The same is true for university professors in Pakistan. These are the professors who, despite provisions in the HEC ordinance, remain on the same pay scale throughout their careers due to the lack of a clear career advancement system.
Regrettably, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has shown reluctance to implement this provision. This discrepancy is a source of great shame for the country. On the one hand, we celebrate “Salam Teachers Day,” but on the other, the teachers’ rightful demands are denied.
Discussions on this issue have taken place on a number of important forums, including the National Assembly standing committees, the Ministry of Federal Education, and others. The special standing committee recently issued multiple show cause notices to the chairman of HEC to notify the promotion policy for university teachers.
Frustrated by the lack of progress, teachers have resorted to strikes, even on “Teachers Day”, as HEC continues to withhold the promotion policy notification. The All Public Universities BPS Teachers Association (APUBTA) has announced a month-long protest, which will persist until the promotion policy is officially notified. Today, teachers observe Teachers Day as a “black day” in protest, marking a moment of deep concern.
The government must pay heed to this situation, as countrywide university teachers are prepared to take to the streets on October 31 and continue until their demands are met. This impending mobilisation should be a matter of grave concern for all stakeholders involved.
The writer holds a PhD from the University of Essex in the UK and serves as an Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of Malakand.
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