KARACHI, July 21: The Sindh government on Friday imposed ban on all sorts of associations and unions formed by employees of the Sindh Education department, including those run by teachers, it was learnt officially.
In a notification issued by the Sindh education department, with the approval of Sindh Chief Minister, it was stated that it was expedient to disallow the illegal activities under unions and associations in educational institutions for better education and future of students.
“If any civil servant is found involved in union activities, disciplinary action will be taken against him or her under the "Removal from Service (Special Powers) Ordinance, 2000,” added the notification.
It was further stated that government servants or civil servants serving in educational institutions had formed illegal unions and associations which were being used by them as bargaining agent and they were involved in "anti-social" activities, including agitation and illegal strikes.
“They have ruined the academic atmosphere which is detrimental to the educational standard of the students in the province of Sindh", said the education department notification.
The government emphasised that all employees of the Education and Literacy Department, including the teaching staff, were the civil servants and their terms and conditions were regulated by the Sindh Civil Servants Act, 1973 and the rules made there under.
Also, there is no provision in the Societies Registration Act 1860 and the Voluntary Social Welfare and Voluntary Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961, for registration of Civil Servants' Union or associations in the province, it was added.
When contacted, the Sindh education secretary, Ghulam Ali Pasha, said the notification was applicable in the case of all employees of the government-run educational institutions, including those administratively controlled by the district governments.
He further said the classrooms under the possession of teachers or employees for their union or association activities, if any, would be got vacated after the imposition of the ban.
The education department will further formulate a plan of action in line with the notification soon, he added.
Observers said that teachers and employees bodies, which were formed in the name of employees' welfare, had been a sources of concern for authorities for long as they some time did play a role of a "watchdog", particularly when it comes to government decisions, like privatization of educational institutions, shortage of teachers, academic practices, and law and order situation in colleges.
