KARACHI, Dec 1: Teachers and students representatives at a seminar condemned the growing incidents of violence against teachers at the educational institutes and called for enhanced teacher-student interaction besides restoration of students unions to provide students a platform for resolving their issues.

The seminar on “Violence against teachers” was organized by the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), held on Thursday at its Vicky Zeitlin Media Library.

The president of the Karachi University Teachers’ Society (KUTS) Sarwar Nasim said that violence against teachers was not a political issue instead it was a social problem and needed debate at various levels, in seminars, conferences and by the media to curb the menace.

He said that there was no justification for the violence against teachers in any case and urged the students to bring their problems to the teachers instead of trying to resolve them by using force.

The KUTS president said that enhanced teacher-student interaction was the key to eradicate the trend of using force against teachers.

Thanking the KU Vice-Chancellor Dr Pirzada Qasim for taking prompt action on teachers’ demands and Sindh ministers Rauf Siddiqui and Shoaib Bukhari for their support to the KU administration, Mr Nasim said that the KUTS had to take some strict action to end violence against teachers.

According to him, the society as a whole lacks tolerance and the issue needs immediate attention of all the stakeholders and suggested formation of at least three more public sector varsities in Karachi.

The president of the Teachers Society of the FUUAST Karachi, Dr Sulaiman Mohammad, said that the phenomenon of violence against teachers was of a very unique nature as it was never heard before in our society that a teacher was subjected to torture by students.

He deplored that education never remained the priority of the government owing to which no local student wanted to adopt teaching as a profession.

Dr Mohammad said that dictatorship was the main cause of the majority of the evils in our society, while democracy prevented society from many social evils.

He observed that violence entered the local educational institutions in 1980s when student unions were outlawed and now student organizations were using force against teachers for using unfair means during exams, cheating and admissions in violation of merit.

Speaking on the occasion, Tahir Yousuf, head of the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organization (APMSO) claimed that through a well-conceived conspiracy, educational institutes of Karachi were being defamed to give a message that the educational institutes of Karachi were not safe and peaceful.

Mr Yousaf called for initiating protest for all teachers, who have been subjected to violence.

He said that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) did a lot for teachers as they were given representation in the Parliament.

The Karachi nazim of the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT), Syed Tahir Akbar, praised the KUTS and the SPLA for raising voice against violence and torture against teachers and said the trend started in 1990-91 when teachers were compelled to offer their services to the Punjab government for the protection of their lives.

He alleged that a political party in coalition with the provincial and federal governments had turned educational institutions into its sector and unit offices and was involved in violence against those who disagree with its policy.

Mr Akbar called for restoration of student unions at educational institutions, saying it was the sole solution of the problems currently facing the students and teachers in Karachi.—PPI