June 24, 2007	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 08, 1428

TIMERGARA, June 23: Hundreds of teachers of the public-sector schools have vowed to boycott classes and examination duties if the government fails to fulfil their demands. They also have threatened to organise a sit-in in front of the NWFP Assembly on July 2.

This was decided at a protest meeting organised by the All Teachers Coordination Council in Blambet here on Saturday. Teachers from across Lower Dir district and the Malakand Agency participated in the meeting.

The protesting teachers were demanding of the NWFP government to enhance their teaching allowances and to increase the unattractive area allowances (UAA) from Rs75 to Rs500 per month.

The speakers on the occasion said the provincial government had promised to give financial incentives to teachers, including increase in UAA in the next budget. But, unfortunately, the finance minister did not offer any package for teachers.

They said that if the NWFP government failed to issue a notification regarding their demands soon, teachers from across the province would stage a sit-in in front of the provincial assembly and hold hunger strike camps.