MINGORA: The All primary teachers association (APTA), Swat chapter, on Monday refused to take part in the anti-polio drive due to precarious security situation in the area.

The teachers also staged a protest in front of the Swat Press Club condemning the government for planning to deduct their salaries for refusing to participate in the anti-polio drive. They also raised slogans in favour of their demands.

APTA leader Ibrahim Shah Bacha said that providing security to the schools was the responsibility of the government and not of the teachers. He complained about the behaviour of the executive district officer, education.

The teachers also criticised the provincial government for not issuing a notification regarding their promotion.

Swat APTA president Syed Sikandar Shah Bacha and general secretary Roedad Khan also participated in the protest and vowed to struggle for their rights.

Meanwhile, a meeting chaired by Malakand division RPO Azad Khan at the Jirga Hall in Saidu Sharif on Monday discussed security measures for educational institutes in Swat. Principals of government and private schools, officials of health and all the line departments and DPOs attended the meet.

RPO Azad Khan said that the police were taking every possible step to ensure security of schools in the division. “We have shared emergency software with three schools and the other schools will get it soon,” he said, adding that providing security to educational institutions was the responsibility of the government.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play