LAHORE, Oct 2: The Punjab Teachers Union on Monday observed academic boycott in all schools in the province and announced that it will observe black day instead of Salam Teachers Day on Oct 6.

PTU president Jan-i-Alam Khan said the teachers were protesting against the government’s indifferent attitude towards the plight of their colleagues serving in primary, middle and secondary schools all over the province. He said the academic activities remained suspended in the province though around 400,000 teachers remained present in the schools.

Mr Khan said the government had withdrawn all facilities, including promotion opportunities, for elementary and secondary schoolteachers. He said the government also did not issue teaching allowance announced in the budget.

He alleged the NGOs, which were supposed to improve government schools’ working, had become virtual owners of the institutions. The NGOs were also interfering in curricula being taught at government schools.

He claimed that the monitoring cell officials were also insulting teachers.

The PTU president alleged that the funds allocated under the Punjab Education Sector Reforms Programme were being used by MPAs and nazims. He said the political interference in schools was also causing restlessness among the teachers.

Mr Khan strongly criticised the government for not allowing 15 per cent dearness allowance for teachers serving on contract basis. Under these circumstances, he said, the teachers had no option but to protest in a peaceful manner.

He said there was no point in celebrating the so-called Salam Teachers Day when the teachers were being humiliated by nazims, retired army men and NGO people. He said, instead, the teachers would observe black day on Oct 6. The protest campaign would continue till Oct 7, he added.

He demanded that the prime minister and chief minister should accept teachers’ genuine demands so that they could lead a respectable life in the society.

A PTU delegation also met PML secretary-general Mushahid Husain Syed and apprised him about the problems being faced by the community.