WHILE teaching is considered a noble profession all over the world, it is sadly one of the least appreciated and lowest paying jobs in Pakistan. Unfortunately, there are no laws in the country which safeguard the rights of the teachers.

Most private schools are in the business of making profits by charging hefty amounts as monthly fees. Others that have popped up across the country charge much lesser fee, but have abysmal standards for hiring teachers. They appoint teachers on the basis of their confidence instead of subject knowledge to avoid paying them well. Hence, a person who has just passed, say, examination for the 10th grade, can easily become a Science or English teacher in these schools.

The Covid pandemic has affected all professions, and teachers are no exception. Many families, which went through financial crisis during the pandemic, have shifted their children to these low-fee schools, but the school-owners do not pay full salary to their teaching staff. Despite protests, they are not willing to give teachers their due rights.

I request the government to take action against such school-owners and ensure that all teachers get paid on time.

Iqra Iqbal

Karachi.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2021