RAWALPINDI: College teaching interns ((CTIs) in Rawalpindi have been waiting for their salaries since their appointment in September last year, as the department concerned is still ‘sitting’ on their files.

The Higher Education, Punjab in order to fill vacant posts hired hundreds of fresh graduates for a period of nine months from September to June as interns across the province in pubic sector colleges against a salary of Rs15,000 per month. However, so far, none of them has been paid the salary.

“We have been waiting for our salaries for the last eight months but the authority concerned is not paying any heed to our problem,” said a frustrated teacher on the condition of anonymity.

He said in Rawalpindi 191 teacher were hired under the programme. On first day of each month he comes to college in the hope of getting the salary, but returns empty handed, he said.

Talking to Dawn another teacher said: “When my family and friends asked me about my salary and job I always feel embarrassed while replying to their questions.”

The frustrated teachers said that they took a wrong decision of joining colleges. It is better to teach at a private school than a government college because there we would have got something monthly, one of the teachers told Dawn.

They have not been paid a single penny since their appointment in Sept last year

The frustrated teachers said nonpayment of salary by the Punjab government had forced them to seek loan form various people to make both ends meet.

They said that whenever they took up the matter with the authorities concerned they simply tell them to wait.

According to the CTIs, they have raised this issue at every relevant platform. “We have lodged our applications with the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif but to no avail.

“Pay will be of no use when loan payment will eat away all my salaries,” said a young, teacher who teaches graduation students at Hashmat Ali Islamia College, Rawalpindi.

Talking to Dawn another group of teachers said they asked principals for our salaries, who referred the matter to the director, who ask Secretary Higher Education Punjab but at the end all officers ask us to wait.”

The teachers asked Secretary Higher Education, Punjab whether he or anyone else could work for eight to nine months without getting a single penny?

Principals wishing not be named acknowledged that these fresh graduates were producing excellent results and have been teaching with full devotion. “Five interns are teaching in my college.

I’m satisfied with their performance. Some time I gave them pocket money form my own,” said a principal who wished not be named.

Director Colleges Professor Humuyun Iqbal, who could not be approached for his comments on Monday, a few days back while taking to Dawn over said issue had said: “Higher Education Punjab is responsible for releasing salaries. I think in entire province teaching interns were not paid yet. So whenever, department will release salaries for all interns, we will pay Rawalpindi teachers too,” he had said and added that performance of intern teachers was outstanding.

To a question, he had said that in next few days before completion of current the fiscal year all the teachers would be paid their salaries.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2014