October 15, 2002	Tuesday	Sha'aban 8, 1423

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RAWALPINDI, Oct 14: The teaching staff of government schools and colleges on Monday boycott classes in protest against the proposed formation of governing bodies to run educational institutions in the city.

Schoolteachers and college professors gathered at Gordon College for a demonstration after boycotting classes. About 300 members of teachers-lecturers alliance attended the protest demonstration. Union leaders spoke to the gathering and vowed to continue struggle till the proposal of forming governing bodies had been withdrawn.

The alliance also decided that the boycott of classes would continue on Mondays and Thursdays every week till the acceptance of their demands.

The union leaders visited various schools and colleges and asked their protesting colleagues to be adamant on their decision to force the authorities concerned to withdraw the decision. They raised slogans against, what they termed, the government’s anti- education policies.

“We won’t allow the government to close doors of education to the poor. Formation of the boards of governors is equal to giving educational institutions in private hands. The government just wants to wash its hands off this sector,” the teachers pledged.

The union leaders said about 10 schools and four collegesin Faisalababd had beenhanded over to the boards of governors. A similar step has been taken in Lahore, they said, adding that the process will soon be introduced in Rawalpindi.

The proposed boards of governors will comprise 10 members for every college or school, having full authority to run the institutions.

The break-up of the boards is: five members from the traders, the college principal, the district Nazim, the DCO, an army personnel and the executive district officer education.

These boards will be responsible for generating 90 per cent funds of the institution and the remaining 10 per cent is to be provided by the government.

The teachers fear that once these bodies are established, the 10 members will have the powers to relieve any of the teaching staff member and make arbitrary recruitments. The bodies will also be authorized to raise fees for students.