KARACHI: Teachers at public sector universities observed a ‘black day’ on Monday, demanding restructuring of the provincial Higher Education Commission (HEC) and removal of two government officials of the department of Sindh universities and boards.

The protest was called by the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (Fapuasa)-Sindh chapter.

The association now plans to hold a partial strike on Tuesday and Friday under which teachers would boycott all academic activities after 11am.

“Today, teachers held rallies and put up banners on their respective campuses to present their demands which include restructuring of the provincial HEC in consultation with all stakeholders and replacing chairman and secretary of Sindh universities and boards department,” said Ghufran Alam representing Karachi University Teachers Society (Kuts).

Explaining teachers’ stance, he said that the provincial HEC and the department of boards and universities hadn’t taken any initiative to address teachers’ concerns so far.

Consequently, he said, teachers faced prolonged delays in promotions, deans’ appointments and release in the annual grants of universities and allowances.

“The CM office is also taking too much time to endorse the recommendations of syndicate of various universities.”

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2018