TIMERGARA: The teachers of government primary schools on Wednesday formed the Qualified Primary Teachers Association to fight for their rights.

The development came during a meeting in Chakdara, where teachers from different districts were in attendance.

The participants unanimously named Salim Javed the QPTA provincial chairman, while Abdul Aleem was made the association’s president in Lower Dir, Mohammad Arshad general secretary, Farid Khan vice president, Aftab Ahmad finance secretary and Izzat Khan press secretary.

Salim Javed later said the provincial government had ignored qualified primary teachers, who desperately needed up-gradation of their posts.

He said the government should announce grade 15 for primary teachers with a first division BA degree, grade 16 for those with BEd degree and grade 17 for those with a master’s degree.

The QPTA chairman said the association would formally apprise lawmakers, education department and relevant provincial government authorities of the demands for necessary action.

He warmed teachers would agitate if their demands were not met.

CHILDREN GO MISSING: Four seminary students have gone missing under mysterious circumstances in Asbanr area of Lower Dir district.

Juma Khan told the Asbanr police that his son, Essa Khan, 8, along with Mukhtar, 22, Mohammad Rehman, 12, and Gul Azeem went missing from their seminary on Aug 17.

He said all the four children belonged to the same village and that they used to go to seminary regularly but they didn’t return on Aug 17.

“We spoke to all relatives and children’s friends and even went to the surrounding villages in search of children but to no avail,” he said.

The man appealed to the people to inform the nearby police station if they get any information about the missing seminarians.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2014