May 26, 2007	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 09, 1428

TAXILA, May 25: Tension coupled with minor scuffles was the order of the day on Friday when teachers invigilating primary standard examinations boycotted duties to press for their demands primarily concerning perks and privileges.

Children taking examinations were caught in confusion and many of them left for their homes after no teachers were present to watch them as they sit in the exams.

The teachers observed strike and boycotted examination duties on the call of the Punjab Teachers Union (PTU) that has warned to continue strikes till the fulfilment of their demands.

Sources told Dawn’s correspondent in Taxila that Assistant Education Officer (Attock) Waris Khan during a visit to an examination centre in Hassanabdal had a scuffle with PTU Vice- President Farhat Shah and other protesting teachers and suffered multiple injuries.

The AEO was admitted to the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) hospital Hassanabdal.

The Hassanabdal police registered a case against the PTU vice-president and started investigations.

Meanwhile, teachers of Taxila and Wah Cantonment announced to participate in a protest demonstration being organised in front of the Parliament House on May 28 and in a hunger strike the next day.

As many as 28,000 candidates are sitting primary level examinations at some 144 examination centres set up throughout the Attock district, reports Dawn’s correspondent from Attock.

The examination process remained suspended for a few hours on Friday due to unavailability of superintendents and other staff. However, later alternative arrangements were made by the authorities that included persuading the protesting teachers and directing other officials to supervise the exams.

Besides Attock city, similar situation was also reported from other centres established in the towns of Shadi Khan, Rangu (Hazro tehsil), Khunda (Fatehjang tehsil) and Pindigheb.

On receiving the information, parents of the candidates also reached the centres and became very upset due to the situation.

Some of the parents present at Government Pilot Secondary School Attock city said the teachers had been threatening the authorities but no remedial steps were taken.

They also disapproved the strike as it ultimately affected the academic session of their children.

Executive District Officer (EDO) Education Attock Ansar Wazir told Dawn that the problem was faced in the initial hours on the first day of examination. However, the situation was brought under control afterwards.

He admitted that besides three centres in Hazro Tehsil, Fatehjang and Pindigheb, examinations could not take place at 16 centres of Hassanabdal tehsil. Except at these 19 centres, majority of candidates took their exams without any hassle, he said.

Meanwhile, the education department officials also made arrangements for holding exams in certain centres of Gujar Khan where teachers boycotted the invigilation duties, reports our correspondent from Gujar Khan.

At a number of centres, schoolchildren coming from different areas including Gujar Khan city, returned home without sitting the examinations.

Teachers and parents of the candidates were seen exchanging hot words over the serious academic issue.

The Executive District Officer education (schools) rushed to Gujar Khan from Rawalpindi and with the help of minion staff of the schools, lady teachers accompanying their students and the parents conducted the exams.

On the request of the EDO, DSP Raja Taifur Akhtar also reached the examination centres to ensure holding of the examinations without any interruption on the part of teachers.