ISLAMABAD: Following successful talks between protesting teachers and ministry of education officials, teachers called off their strike on Tuesday.

The officials assured the protesting teachers that the ministry would request the federal government to amend section 166 of the Local Government Ordinance 2021.

This section states that the mayor will be the reporting officer of the director general of Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) for all purpose of education which means that schools will be devolved to the local government.

However, during talks, Additional Secretary Education Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani assured the teachers’ action committee headed by Fazal-i-Mola that the ministry will send a summary to the cabinet secretariat, seeking an amendment to the section.

It was agreed that educational institutions will remain part of the education ministry and the ministry will continue dealing with appointment, budget, promotion, transfer and disciplinary matters of the educational institutions.

The protesting teachers were told that the mayor will play a supervisory role on educational institutions.

“We were assured that in next 24 hours a summary will be sent to the cabinet secretariat. We were also assured by the ministry that it would get the summary passed in the shortest possible time. Therefore, we are going to end our strike,” read a statement issued by the action committee of the teaching and non-teaching staff.

However, the action committee said in case of violation of the agreement, the teachers could again take to streets.

Besides the additional secretary, FDE Director General Dr Ikram Ali Malik, Director Schools Abdul Waheed and others also took part in the talks.

“We were given two weeks by the education ministry so in case of non-implementation of the agreement, we will announce a future course of action after two weeks. But we are hopeful our issue will be resolved,” said Malik Ameer Khan, President Federal Government Teachers Association.

He said the teachers had decided to call off the strike in the greater interest of students. “We had no other option but to boycott classes; however, now we will do our job with more dedication to complete the syllabus in due course of time,” he said.

In November last year, the president of Pakistan promulgated the Local Government Ordinance whose 166 clause is related to the education sector.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2022