KARACHI, Sept 18: The Sindh Professors and Lecturers’ Association said that government’s indifferent attitude towards college teachers was a major source of unrest and anxiety among the teachers.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the senior office- bearers of the association maintained that despite repeated discussions regarding the problems faced by the teachers and solutions agreed upon, no practical step had been taken so far to resolve the same, which showed that neither the bureaucracy nor the elected representatives cared for the college teachers.

The SPLA President, Prof Riaz Ahsan, said that colleges teachers were faced with host of problems and if the government further delayed the solution of these, then the teachers would be compelled to resort to protest and other measures for acceptance of their demands.

He said that while the bureaucracy at Islamabad and Sindh and officials of the semi-government and autonomous bodies were enjoying all perks and privileges, as per government’s notification, the teachers in the province were being deprived of their due amount, admissible under house rent and medical allowance, adding that they were not being paid as per new rate of allowances, notified by the government, for last many years.

Referring to the promotions of teachers in different grades, he pointed out that about 500 such cases, including those of director physical education and librarians, were lying pending for long. The promotion cases of librarians and DPEs could not be addressed for last 20 years, he claimed.

The association leaders also pointed out that colleges were not being provided with the sanctioned staff despite allocation of money for the purpose in the provincial budget. Different administrative and teaching posts were lying vacant, at least, at 20 newly-established colleges in the province, while a considerable number of posts were also lying vacant after retirement of teachers and other staff at many of the colleges.

The SPLA President Prof Riaz said that teachers would hold a general body meeting and stage a rally at Sukkur on Sept 29 to press for their demands.

He demanded payment of house rent, equal to 45 per cent of the new pay scale, increase in medical facilities and allowances, orders for promotion of about 500 college staff under the four tier formula, appointment and posting of teaching and non-teaching staff at colleges, besides removal of EDO (education), Sukkur.

To a question, the SPLA leaders mentioned that the association was against the adhoc appointments of teachers for three years, bypassing the Sindh Public Service Commission.

For quality education we need qualified and good teachers, which could not be ensured through the system of adhoc appointments, they added.